Information processing apparatus, computer-readable storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing method, and information processing system

ABSTRACT

State change means changes a state of an information processing apparatus between an unused state and a used state. First communication means automatically performs communication with another portable information processing apparatus. Second communication means automatically performs communication via an access point. Communication control means performs control such that the communication by the first communication means is preferentially performed when the information processing apparatus is in the unused state and the communication by the second communication means is preferentially performed when the information processing apparatus is in the used state.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-040831, filed onFeb. 25, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus,and more particularly, relates to control of a communication processusing a plurality of types of communications.

Description of the Background Art

Conventionally, a system is known in which communication isautomatically performed with another apparatus. For example, JapanesePatent No. 4073885 discloses a system in which game apparatuses performcommunication with each other to confirm exchange conditions of data,and exchange game data designated for exchange when the exchangeconditions agree with each other.

However in the system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4073885,communication is merely automatically performed with another gameapparatus, and the communication is only one type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novelinformation processing apparatus, a novel computer-readable storagemedium having an information processing program stored therein, a novelinformation processing method, and a novel information processingsystem.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide aninformation processing apparatus, a computer-readable storage mediumhaving an information processing program stored therein, an informationprocessing method, and an information processing system, which canchange a mode of communication to be performed.

The present invention has the following features to attain the objectmentioned above.

An information processing apparatus according to the present inventionstate change means, first communication means. The state change meanschanges a state of the information processing apparatus between anunused state and a used state. The first communication meansautomatically performs communication with another information processingapparatus. The second communication means automatically performscommunication via an access point. The communication control means forperforming control such that the communication by the firstcommunication means is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the unused state and the communication by thesecond communication means is preferentially performed when theinformation processing apparatus is in the used state.

By the above configuration, in each of the unused state and the usedstate of the information processing apparatus, communication suitablefor each state can be performed easily. For example, in the unusedstate, an opportunity of automatically transmitting/receiving datato/from (information processing apparatuses of) various other userswithout making the user notice it can be increased by increasing anopportunity of performing communication with another informationprocessing apparatus. As a result, by adding a new element to theinformation processing apparatus on the basis of a result of datatransmission/reception with the other users, a surprise can be providedto the user, and the fun can be enhanced. On the other hand, in the usedstate, convenience can be improved for the user by providing a statewhere a communication process based on an operation of the user can beperformed anytime. Here, examples of the communication mode based on anoperation of the user in the used state include a mode of performinginfrastructure type communication such as performing data communicationwith a predetermined server and a mode of performing ad hoc typecommunication with an information processing apparatus of another userby executing an application such as for a versus game. Further, examplesof the infrastructure type communication in the used state includecommunication performed as a foreground process such as browsingInternet sites with a browser, and communication performed as abackground process. The reason why control is performed in the usedstate such that the communication via the access point is preferentiallyperformed is as follows. For example, in the case of a communicationprocess for browsing Internet sites with a browser, the communicationprocess can be performed on the basis of only an intention of the userusing the information processing apparatus. In contrast, in the case ofthe ad hoc type communication such as for the versus game, the ad hoctype communication is not performed unless a plurality of users desireto play the versus game, specify a connection partner, and agree witheach other about playing the versus game. Thus, in the used state, forexample, even when the user desires to perform the ad hoc typecommunication with another user who passes the user, unless the otheruser desires to perform the ad hoc type communication similarly, suchcommunication is not performed. In other words, even when communicationwith another information processing apparatus is prioritized to beperformed in the used state, there is a low possibility that the ad hoctype communication will be performed, if there is no mutual agreement,as described above. Therefore, in the used state, control is performedsuch that the communication via the access point is preferentiallyperformed.

In another configuration example, in the used state of the informationprocessing apparatus, the communication control means may perform thecommunication by the second communication means when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied, and may perform the communication by the firstcommunication means when the predetermined condition is not satisfied.

According to the above configuration example, the two communicationmodes can be selectively used in the used state.

In another configuration example, a first period for performing thecommunication by the first communication means in the unused state and asecond period during which the communication by the first communicationmeans is not performed in the unused state may be previously set in theinformation processing apparatus, and the communication control means:may perform the communication by the second communication means in theunused state when the second period has come and the access point ispresent in a communicable range; may perform the communication by thesecond communication means in the used state when the access point ispresent in the communicable range; and may perform the communication bythe first communication means in the used state when the access point isnot present in the communicable range.

According to the above configuration example, different communicationscan be selectively performed as appropriate in accordance with the usedstate and the surrounding environment of the portable informationprocessing apparatus.

In still another configuration example, the information processingapparatus may further comprise search switch means, first search means,and second search means. The search switch means automatically switchesbetween a first search and a second search. The first search meansautomatically performs a search for the other information processingapparatus when the search switch means switches to the first search. Thesecond search means automatically performs a search for a predeterminedaccess point when the search switch means switches to the second search.The communication control means: may perform the communication by thefirst communication means with the other information processingapparatus when the other information processing apparatus is detected bythe first search means; and may perform the communication by the secondcommunication means via the access point when the access point isdetected by the second search means.

According to the above configuration example, the search for performingcommunication with the other information processing apparatus and thesearch for performing communication via the access point areautomatically switched, and when a search target is found in eachsearch, communication is performed. Thus, appropriate communication canbe performed in accordance with the surrounding situation of theinformation processing apparatus. In addition, the two types ofdifferent communication modes can be selectively and seamlesslyperformed.

In still another configuration example, the search switch means mayswitch between the first search and the second search each time apredetermined time elapses.

According to the above configuration example, the two types ofcommunications can be selectively performed with a low processing load.

In still another configuration example, the predetermined time may be afirst unit time after the search switch means switches to the firstsearch, and may be a second unit time shorter than the first unit timeafter the search switch means switches to the second search.

According to the above configuration example, an opportunity ofperforming communication with the other information processing apparatuscan be increased.

In still another configuration example, in the unused state of theinformation processing apparatus, the search switch means mayalternately and repeatedly perform the first search and the secondsearch each time the predetermined time elapses, and in the used stateof the information processing apparatus, the search switch means mayperform switching from the first search to the second search when thepredetermined time elapses, and may perform switching from the secondsearch to the first search when communication with the access pointbecomes disenabled.

According to the above configuration example, when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the used state, a use situation is consideredwhere Internet communication is performed on the basis of an operationof the user. Thus, since such communication via the access point isprioritized, a waiting time for communication that is provided to theuser can be shortened.

In still another configuration example, the information processingapparatus may further comprise connection means for connecting to theaccess point when the access point is detected by the second searchmeans, the second communication means may perform communication via theaccess point when the information processing apparatus is connected tothe access point by the connection means, and the connection means: maycut a connection to the access point after the communication by thesecond communication means ends, in the unused state; and may maintainthe connection to the access point even after the communication by thesecond communication means ends, in the used state.

According to the above configuration example, when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the used state, an opportunity of performingcommunication via the access point can be increased.

In still another configuration example, the search switch means mayswitch to the first search when the connection to the access point bythe connection means cannot be maintained.

According to the above configuration example, when the connection to theaccess point cannot be maintained, an opportunity of performingcommunication with the other information processing apparatus can beincreased.

In still another configuration example, in the used state, theconnection means may cut the connection to the access point when theaccess point cannot be detected in the search by the second search meansafter the information processing apparatus is connected to the accesspoint by the connection means.

According to the above configuration example, when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the used state, the communication is switchedto the communication with the other information processing apparatus, ifthe access point is not found even though the communication via theaccess point is prioritized to be performed. Thus, appropriatecommunication can be performed in accordance with the surroundingenvironment of the information processing apparatus.

In still another configuration example, the first search means mayrepeatedly transmit a first search signal for searching for the otherinformation processing apparatus and may attempt to receive the firstsearch signal transmitted from the other information processingapparatus, and the second search means may attempt to receive a secondsearch signal repeatedly transmitted from the access point.

According to the above configuration example, when the other informationprocessing apparatus is searched for, the information processingapparatus attempts to transmit and receive a search signal to and fromthe other information processing apparatus, and when the access point issearched for, the information processing apparatus attempts to receive asearch signal. By so doing, the search can be efficiently performed.

In still another configuration example, the first communication meansmay connect directly to another information processing apparatus presentin a range of short-distance wireless communication, by using theshort-distance wireless communication, and may perform communicationwith the other information processing apparatus, and the secondcommunication means may perform communication with a server or anotherinformation processing apparatus via the access point.

According to the above configuration example, the two type ofcommunications, the communication with an information processingapparatus present near the information processing apparatus and thecommunication with a predetermined information processing apparatus notpresent near the information processing apparatus, can be performed.

In still another configuration example, the second communication meansmay transmit/receive data that is the same as data transmitted/receivedby the communication performed by the first communication means, to/fromanother information processing apparatus by communication via the accesspoint.

According to the above configuration example, for example, when theinformation processing apparatus is connected to the access point in theused state, the communication process that is to be originally performedby means of the first communication means can be performed by using anetwork via the access point. Therefore, since the communication via theaccess point is prioritized, a situation where the communication withthe other portable information processing apparatus cannot be performedcan be improved.

In still another configuration example, the information processingapparatus may be a portable information processing apparatus.

According to the above configuration example, for example, when the usermoves with the information processing apparatus when going out, variouscommunications can be performed without making the user notice it. Thus,a surprise can be provided to the user, and a motivation to carry theinformation processing apparatus can be provided to the user.

An information processing apparatus according to the present inventioncomprises first communication means, second communication means, accesspoint search means, and switch control means. The first communicationmeans automatically performs data communication with another informationprocessing apparatus by using short-distance wireless communication. Thesecond communication means automatically performs data communication viaan access point. The access point search means searches for the accesspoint present in a communicable range of the information processingapparatus. The switch control means performs the communication by thesecond communication means when the access point is present in thecommunicable range, and performs the communication by the firstcommunication means when the access point is not present in thecommunicable range.

According to the above configuration example, the two types ofcommunications can be selectively used in accordance with thesurrounding communication environment of the information processingapparatus, and an opportunity for the information processing apparatusto automatically perform various communications can be increased.

An information processing apparatus according to the present inventioncomprises state change means, first communication means, andcommunication control means. The state change means changes a state ofthe information processing apparatus between an unused state and a usedstate. The first communication means connects to an access point andautomatically performs a data communication process via the accesspoint. The communication control means cuts a connection to the accesspoint when the data communication process by the first communicationmeans ends, in the unused state of the information processing apparatus,and maintains the connection to the access point even when the datacommunication process by the first communication means ends, in the usedstate of the information processing apparatus.

According to the above configuration example, an opportunity ofperforming the communication by the first communication means can bechanged in accordance with the used state of the information processingapparatus.

In still another configuration example, the information processingapparatus may further comprise second communication means forautomatically performing a data communication process with anotherinformation processing apparatus, and in the used state of theinformation processing apparatus, the communication control means maycut a connection to the other information processing apparatus when thedata communication process by the second communication means ends, andmay maintain the connection to the access point when the datacommunication process by the first communication means ends.

According to the above configuration example, in the used state, thecommunication by the first communication means can be prioritized.

An computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program according to the present invention is acomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program executed by a computer of an information processingapparatus. The information processing program causes the computer tooperate as state change means, first communication means, secondcommunication means, and communication control means. The state changemeans changes a state of the information processing apparatus between anunused state and a used state. The first communication meansautomatically performs communication with another information processingapparatus. The second communication means automatically performscommunication via an access point. The communication control meansperforms control such that the communication by the first communicationmeans is preferentially performed when the information processingapparatus is in the unused state and the communication by the secondcommunication means is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the used state.

An information processing method according to the present inventioncomprises a state change step, a first communication step, a secondcommunication step, and a communication control step. The state changestep changes a state of the information processing apparatus between anunused state and a used state. The first communication stepautomatically performs communication with another information processingapparatus. The second communication step automatically performscommunication via an access point. The communication control stepperforms control such that the communication by the first communicationstep is preferentially performed when the information processingapparatus is in the unused state and the communication by the secondcommunication step is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the used state.

An information processing system according to the present invention isan information processing system comprising a server and a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses. Each information processingapparatus comprises state change means, first communication means,second communication means, and communication control means. The statechange means changes a state of the information processing apparatusbetween an unused state and a used state. The first communication meansautomatically performs communication with another information processingapparatus. The second communication means automatically performscommunication with the server via an access point. The communicationcontrol means performs control such that the communication by the firstcommunication means is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the unused state and the communication by thesecond communication means is preferentially performed when theinformation processing apparatus is in the used state.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program according to the present invention is acomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program executed by a computer of an information processingapparatus. The information processing program causes the computer tooperate as first communication means, second communication means, accesspoint search means, and switch control means. The first communicationmeans automatically performs data communication with another informationprocessing apparatus by using short-distance wireless communication. Thesecond communication means automatically performs data communication viaan access point. The access point search means searches for the accesspoint present in a communicable range of the information processingapparatus. The switch control means for performs the communication bythe second communication means when the access point is present in thecommunicable range, and performs the communication by the firstcommunication means when the access point is not present in thecommunicable range.

An information processing method according to the present invention isan information processing method used in an information processingapparatus, and comprises a first communication step, a secondcommunication step, an access point search step, and a switch controlstep. The first communication step automatically performs datacommunication with another information processing apparatus by usingshort-distance wireless communication. The second communication stepautomatically performs data communication via an access point. Theaccess point search step searches for the access point present in acommunicable range of the information processing apparatus. The switchcontrol step performs the communication by the second communication stepwhen the access point is present in the communicable range, and performsthe communication by the first communication step when the access pointis not present in the communicable range.

An information processing system according to the present invention isan information processing system comprising a server and a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses. Each information processingapparatus comprises first communication means, second communicationmeans, access point search means, and switch control means. The firstcommunication means automatically performs data communication withanother information processing apparatus by using short-distancewireless communication. The second communication means automaticallyperforms data communication with the server via an access point. Theaccess point search means searches for the access point present in acommunicable range of the information processing apparatus. The switchcontrol means performs the communication by the second communicationmeans when the access point is present in the communicable range, andperforms the communication by the first communication means when theaccess point is not present in the communicable range.

A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program according to the present invention is acomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein an informationprocessing program executed by a computer of an information processingapparatus. The information processing program causing the computer tooperate as state change means, first communication means, andcommunication control means. The state change means changes a state ofthe information processing apparatus between an unused state and a usedstate. The first communication means connects to an access point andautomatically performs a data communication process via the accesspoint. The communication control means cuts a connection to the accesspoint when the data communication process by the first communicationmeans ends, in the unused state of the information processing apparatus,and maintains the connection to the access point even when the datacommunication process by the first communication means ends, in the usedstate of the information processing apparatus.

An information processing method according to the present invention isan information processing method used in an information processingapparatus, and comprises a state change step, a first communicationstep, and a communication control step. The state change step changes astate of the information processing apparatus between an unused stateand a used state. The first communication step connects to an accesspoint and automatically performs a data communication process via theaccess point. The communication control step cuts a connection to theaccess point when the data communication process by the firstcommunication step ends, in the unused state of the informationprocessing apparatus, and maintains the connection to the access pointeven when the data communication process by the first communication stepends, in the used state of the information processing apparatus.

An information processing system according to the present invention isan information processing system comprising a server and a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses. Each information processingapparatus comprises state change means, first communication means, andcommunication control means. The state change means changes a state ofthe information processing apparatus between an unused state and a usedstate. The first communication means connects to an access point andautomatically performs a data communication process via the accesspoint. The communication control means cuts a connection to the accesspoint when the data communication process by the first communicationmeans ends, in the unused state of the information processing apparatus,and maintains the connection to the access point even when the datacommunication process by the first communication means ends, in the usedstate of the information processing apparatus.

According to the present invention, the two types of communicationprocesses can be selectively used in accordance with the used state anda condition of the information processing apparatus. For example, in theused state, the communication via the access point such as Internetcommunication based on an operation of the user can be easily performed.In the unused state, a process of performing communication with theother portable information processing apparatus present nearby can beperformed without making the user notice it. Therefore, an appropriatecommunication process can be performed in accordance with the used stateand the condition of the portable information processing apparatus.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game apparatus 10 in its opened state;

FIG. 2A is a left side view of the game apparatus 10 in its closedstate;

FIG. 2B is a front view of the game apparatus 10 in its closed state;

FIG. 2C is a right side view of the game apparatus 10 in its closedstate;

FIG. 2D is a rear view of the game apparatus 10 in its closed state;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of thegame apparatus 10;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the entirety of a networkconfiguration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a search pattern according to theembodiment;

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a search pattern according to theembodiment;

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a search pattern according to theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating main data stored in a storage areaincluded in a first microcomputer 37;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating main data stored in a RAM 362;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating programs and data stored in an internaldata storage memory 35;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating main programs stored in a systemprogram area 502;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating each performing component and aprocess performed by each performing component in a “sleep mode”;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating each performing component and aprocess performed by each performing component in a “normal power mode”;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of“passing communication” data 505;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of“unnoticed communication” data 506;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a microcomputer process performed bythe first microcomputer 37;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a during-sleep BG communicationprocess performed by a second microcomputer 361;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating details of a passing communicationprocess at step S21 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating details of a management process;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating details of a game apparatus countersetting process in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating details of an application process;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating details of a normal time BGcommunication process;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating details of the normal time BGcommunication process; and

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating details of an “unnoticedcommunication” process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the presentinvention is not limited to the embodiment.

(Structure of Game Apparatus)

Hereinafter, a game apparatus that is one example of an informationprocessing apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. A game apparatus 10 is a hand-held gameapparatus. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A to 2D, the game apparatus 10includes a lower housing 11 and an upper housing 21. The lower housing11 and the upper housing 21 are connected to each other so as to beopenable and closable (foldable).

(Description of Lower Housing)

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A to 2D, in the lower housing 11, a lowerLCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 12, a touch panel 13, operation buttons 14Ato 14L, an analog stick 15, an LED 16A and an LED 16B, an insertionopening 17, and a microphone hole 18 are provided.

The touch panel 13 is mounted on the screen of the lower LCD 12. Theinsertion opening 17 (indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2D)for accommodating a touch pen 28 is provided on an upper side surface ofthe lower housing 11.

A cross button 14A (direction input button 14A), a button 14B, a button14C, a button 14D, a button 14E, a power button 14F, a selection button143, a HOME button 14K, and a start button 14L are provided on an innerside surface (main surface) of the lower housing 11.

An analog stick 15 is a device for instructing a direction.

The microphone hole 18 is provided on the inner side surface of thelower housing 11. Under the microphone hole 18, a microphone 42 (seeFIG. 3) is provided as a sound input device described below.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, an L button 14G and an R button 14H areprovided on the upper side surface of the lower housing 11. Further, asshown in FIG. 2A, a sound volume button 14I for adjusting volume of aspeaker 43 (see FIG. 3) provided in the game apparatus 10 is provided ona left side surface of the lower housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a cover section 11C is provided on the left sidesurface of the lower housing 11 so as to be openable and closable.Inside the cover section 11C, a connector is provided for electricallyconnecting between the game apparatus 10 and an external data storagememory 29.

As shown in FIG. 2D, an insertion opening 11D through which an externalmemory 28 having a game program stored therein is inserted is providedon the upper side surface of the lower housing 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2C, a first LED 16A for notifying auser of an ON/OFF state of a power supply of the game apparatus 10 isprovided on a lower side surface of the lower housing 11, and a secondLED 16B for notifying a user of an establishment state of a wirelesscommunication of the game apparatus 10 is provided on a right sidesurface of the lower housing 11. The game apparatus 10 is capable ofperforming wireless communication with another apparatus, and a wirelessswitch 19 for enabling/disabling the function of the wirelesscommunication is provided on the right side surface of the lower housing11 (see FIG. 2C).

(Description of Upper Housing)

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIGS. 2B and 2C, in the upper housing 21, an upperLCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 22, an outer imaging section 23 (an outerimaging section (left) 23 a and an outer imaging section (right) 23 b),an inner imaging section 24, a 3D adjustment switch 25, and a 3Dindicator 26 are provided.

The upper LCD 22 is a display device capable of displaying astereoscopically visible image. Specifically, the upper LCD 22 is aparallax barrier type display device capable of displaying an image thatis stereoscopically visible with naked eyes. The upper LCD 22 allows auser to view the image for a left eye with her/his left eye, and theimage for a right eye with her/his right eye by utilizing a parallaxbarrier, so that an image (a stereoscopically visible image) exerting astereoscopic effect for a user can be displayed. Further, the upper LCD22 may disable the parallax barrier. When the parallax barrier isdisabled, an image can be displayed in a planar manner. Thus, the upperLCD 22 is a display device capable of switching between a stereoscopicdisplay mode for displaying a stereoscopically visible image and aplanar display mode (for displaying a planar visible image) fordisplaying an image in a planar manner. The switching of the displaymode is performed, for example, by the 3D adjustment switch 25 describedbelow.

Two imaging sections (23 a and 23 b) provided on an outer side surface21D of the upper housing 21 are generically referred to as the outerimaging section 23. The outer imaging section (left) 23 a and the outerimaging section (right) 23 b can be used as a stereo camera depending ona program executed by the game apparatus 10.

The inner imaging section 24 is provided in an inner side surface 21B ofthe upper housing 21 and acts as an imaging section that has an imagingdirection that is the same direction as the inward normal direction ofthe inner side surface.

The 3D adjustment switch 25 is a slide switch, and is used for switchinga display mode of the upper LCD 22 as described above. Further, the 3Dadjustment switch 25 is used for adjusting the stereoscopic effect of astereoscopically visible image (stereoscopic image) which is displayedon the upper LCD 22. A slider 25 a of the 3D adjustment switch 25 isslidable to any position in a predetermined direction (along thelongitudinal direction of the right side surface), and a display mode ofthe upper LCD 22 is determined in accordance with the position of theslider 25 a. Further, a manner in which the stereoscopic image isvisible is adjusted in accordance with the position of the slider 25 a.

The 3D indicator 26 is an LED indicating whether or not the upper LCD 22is in the stereoscopic display mode.

Further, a speaker hole 21E is provided in the inner side surface of theupper housing 21. A sound is outputted through the speaker hole 21E fromthe speaker 43 described below.

(Internal Configuration of Game Apparatus 10)

Next, an internal electrical configuration of the game apparatus 10 willbe described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the gameapparatus 10 includes, in addition to the components described above,electronic components such as an information processing section 31, amain memory 32, an external memory interface (external memory I/F) 33,an external data storage memory I/F 34, an internal data storage memory35, a wireless communication module 36, a first microcomputer 37, anacceleration sensor 39, a power supply circuit 40, an interface circuit(I/F circuit) 41, an open/close detector 46, and the like.

The information processing section 31 includes a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit) 311 for executing a predetermined program, a GPU (GraphicsProcessing Unit) 312 for performing image processing, a VRAM (Video RAM)313, and the like. By executing a program stored in a memory (forexample, the external memory 28 connected to the external memory I/F 33or the internal data storage memory 35) inside the game apparatus 10,the CPU 311 performs a process corresponding to this program. Theprogram executed by the CPU 311 may be obtained from another apparatusthrough communication with the other apparatus. In the presentembodiment, the CPU 311 is capable of performing multitask control. TheGPU 312 generates an image in accordance with an instruction from theCPU 311, and renders the image in the VRAM 313. The image rendered inthe VRAM 313 is outputted to the upper LCD 22 and/or the lower LCD 12and displayed on the upper LCD 22 and/or the lower LCD 12.

The external memory I/F 33 is an interface for detachably connecting tothe external memory 28. The external data storage memory I/F 34 is aninterface for detachably connecting to the external data storage memory29.

The main memory 32 is a volatile storage device used as a work area anda buffer area for (the CPU 311 of) the information processing section31.

The external memory 28 is a nonvolatile storage device for storing aprogram and the like executed by the information processing section 31.The external memory 28 is implemented as, for example, a read-onlysemiconductor memory.

The external data storage memory 29 is implemented as a non-volatilereadable and writable memory (for example, a NAND flash memory), and isused for storing optional data.

The internal data storage memory 35 is implemented as a non-volatilereadable and writable memory (for example, a NAND flash memory), and isused for storing predetermined data. For example, data and/or programsdownloaded through the wireless communication module 36 by wirelesscommunication is stored in the internal data storage memory 35.

The wireless communication module 36 has a function of performingwireless communication with another communication apparatus. In thepresent embodiment, the wireless communication module 36 can implementtwo types of communication modes, “infrastructure communication” and “adhoc communication” described below. The “infrastructure communication”is a function of connecting to a wireless LAN by using a method basedon, for example, IEEE 802.11b/g/n standard. The “ad hoc communication”is a function of performing wireless communication with the same type ofgame apparatus by a predetermined communication method (for example,communication based on a unique protocol, infrared communication).Although described in detail below, three types of communicationfunctions, “unnoticed communication”, “passing communication”, and“local communication”, are selectively performed as appropriate by usingthe two types of communication modes in the present embodiment.

The wireless communication module 36 includes a second microcomputer361, a RAM 362, and the like. The RAM 362 is used for storing programsfor implementing the three types of communication functions describedabove. In particular, in the present embodiment, because of the capacityof the RAM 362 and the like, one program is appropriately selected froma program for the “unnoticed communication”, a program for the “passingcommunication”, and a program for the “local communication” inaccordance with a desired communication function, and the selectedprogram is stored in the RAM 363. In other words, a program to beexecuted is switched as appropriate. Then, the second microcomputer 361controls execution of the above three communication functions on thebasis of the program stored in the RAM 362.

The acceleration sensor 39 detects magnitudes of accelerations (linearaccelerations) in the directions of the straight lines along the threeaxial (xyz axial) directions, respectively. The information processingsection 31 can receive data (acceleration data) indicating accelerationsdetected by the acceleration sensor 39, and detect an orientation and amotion of the game apparatus 10.

The first microcomputer 37 performs processes such as a processconcerning power management of the game apparatus 1, a processconcerning time, a process of detecting opening or closing of thehousing. In addition, the microcomputer 37 receives a notificationconcerning these processes from the CPU 311, and also provides anotification to the CPU 311. The microcomputer 37 has a real time clock(RTC) 371. The RTC 371 counts a time and outputs the time to the CPU 311via the microcomputer 37. For example, the CPU 311 is capable ofcalculating a current time (date) and the like on the basis of the timecounted by the RTC 371.

The first microcomputer 37 is connected to the open/close detector 46and the power circuit 40. The open/close detector 46 detects opening orclosing of the housing, and notifies the microcomputer 37 (further theCPU 311) of the detection result. The power circuit 40 controls powersupplied from a power supply (typically, a battery accommodated in thelower housing 11) of the game apparatus 10 and supplies the power toeach component of the game apparatus 10. In addition, the power circuit40 receives a notification of shift to a sleep mode or cancellation ofthe sleep mode, from the microcomputer 37 (from the CPU 311 via themicrocomputer 37). Then, the power circuit 40 performs control forappropriately supplying power, on the basis of the notification.

Now, a power control mode of the game apparatus 10 according to thepresent embodiment will be described. After the power supply such as abattery is mounted to the game apparatus 10 so as to allow power to besupplied to each component, the game apparatus 10 basically operates inany one of two power control modes that are a “normal power mode” and a“power saving mode”. The “normal power mode” is a state where power issupplied to all the components. For example, when the user operates thegame apparatus 10 and plays a predetermined game, or when the useroperates various applications, the power control mode is the “normalpower mode”. The “power saving mode” is a state where power supply toonly some of the components is continued and power supply to the othercomponents is stopped. In the present embodiment, the “power savingmode” includes a “sleep mode”. The “sleep mode” is a state where poweris supplied to only the first microcomputer 37 and the wirelesscommunication module 36 and power supply to the other components such asthe CPU 311 and the LCDs is stopped (it should be noted that the CPU 311is capable of receiving an instruction for cancelling the “sleep mode”).Further, in the “sleep mode”, the microcomputer 37 and (the secondmicrocomputer 361 of) the wireless communication module 36 repeatedlyperform processes called “microcomputer process” and “during-sleep BGcommunication process”, respectively, in predetermined cycles. Theseprocesses will be described in detail below.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the method of shifting to thesleep mode or cancelling the sleep mode on the basis of the detectionresult of the open/close detector 46 as described above, it is possibleto change the power control mode between the “normal power mode” and the“sleep mode” in accordance with an operation of the power button 14F.Moreover, in addition to an operation of the power button 14F, it ispossible to automatically cancel the “sleep mode” or shift to the “sleepmode” by a process described below. For example, after the user finishesplaying a certain game, if the user presses the power button 14F (itseems to the user that this operation is an operation to turn off thepower), the game apparatus 10 shifts to the “sleep mode”. In this state,the user can close and carry the game apparatus 10. Then, if the useropens the game apparatus 10 and presses the power button 14F again, the“sleep mode” is cancelled and the game apparatus 10 shifts to the“normal power mode”. Alternatively, the game apparatus 10 may shift tothe “sleep mode” when a predetermined time period elapses from the lastoperation.

Further, by pressing the power button 14F for a predetermined timeperiod or longer, it is possible to shift to a “complete stop mode” inwhich power supply to all the components including the firstmicrocomputer 37 and the wireless communication module 36 is stopped(namely, the power is completely turned off). In this case, if the powerbutton 14F is pressed for the predetermined time period or longer, thegame apparatus 10 starts up to shift to the “normal power mode”.

Here, in view of whether or not the user is using the game apparatus 10,the power control mode can be rephrased as follows. That is, the gameapparatus 10 has two states, namely, a “used state” and an “unusedstate”. The “used state” is a state where the normal power modecontinues since the user opens the housing of the game apparatus 10 anddirectly uses the game apparatus 10. For example, a state where the userplays a game or the like by operating the operation button 14 or thelike, corresponds to this state. On the other hand, the “unused state”is a state where the user does not independently and directly use thegame apparatus 10. The “unused state” also includes a state where thepower control mode is the “sleep mode” since the housing is closed, aswell as a state where, in performing the “unnoticed communication” orthe “passing communication” described below, the “sleep mode” istemporarily cancelled (while the housing is closed), a processconcerning the “unnoticed communication” or the “passing communication”is performed, and the game apparatus 10 returns to the “sleep mode”after performing the “unnoticed communication” or the “passingcommunication”. For example, a state where the user closes the housingof the game apparatus 10 and the game apparatus 10 is put in a bag whenthe user goes out, is the “unused state”. Further, as described above, astate where the “sleep mode” is temporarily cancelled while the gameapparatus 10 is put in the bag and the user goes out, and a state wherethe game apparatus 10 shifts to the “sleep mode” again after the“unnoticed communication” is performed (in this state, the user does notuse the game apparatus 10), are also the “unused state”. Further, inaddition to opening or closing of the housing, the trigger for changingthe state of the game apparatus 10 between the “used state” and the“unused state” also includes an operation of the power button 14F. Inother words, the user has been playing a game (used state), and, then,by the user pressing the power button 14F of the game apparatus 10 afterfinishing the game play, the state of the game apparatus 10 is changedfrom the “used state” to the “unused state”. Further, for example, whenthe user has not performed any operation for a constant time period, thestate of the game apparatus 10 may be changed from the “used state” tothe “unused state”.

In the following description, for simplification of explanation, thepower control mode will be described using an example where only the“normal power mode” and the “sleep mode” are used.

The touch panel 13, the microphone 42, and the speaker 43 are connectedto the I/F circuit 41. The I/F circuit 41 includes a sound controlcircuit for controlling the microphone 42 and the speaker 43(amplifier), and a touch panel control circuit for controlling the touchpanel. The sound control circuit performs A/D conversion and D/Aconversion on the sound signal, and converts the sound signal to apredetermined form of sound data, for example. The touch panel controlcircuit generates a predetermined form of touch position data on thebasis of a signal outputted from the touch panel 13, and outputs thetouch position data to the information processing section 31. Theinformation processing section 31 obtains the touch position data, torecognize a position on which an input is made on the touch panel 13.

The operation button 14 includes the operation buttons 14A to 14Ldescribed above, and operation data indicating an input state of each ofthe operation buttons 14A to 14L (whether or not each button has beenpressed) is outputted from the operation button 14 to the informationprocessing section 31.

The lower LCD 12 and the upper LCD 22 are connected to the informationprocessing section 31. Specifically, the information processing section31 is connected to an LCD controller (not shown) of the upper LCD 22,and causes the LCD controller to set the parallax barrier to ON or OFF.When the parallax barrier is set to ON in the upper LCD 22, an image fora right eye and an image for a left eye that are stored in the VRAM 313of the information processing section 31 are outputted to the upper LCD22. More specifically, the LCD controller alternately repeats reading ofpixel data of the image for a right eye for one line in the verticaldirection, and reading of pixel data of the image for a left eye for oneline in the vertical direction, thereby reading, from the VRAM 313, theimage for a right eye and the image for a left eye. Thus, an image to bedisplayed is divided into the images for a right eye and the images fora left eye each of which is a rectangle-shaped image having one line ofpixels aligned in the vertical direction, and an image, in which therectangle-shaped image for the left eye which is obtained through thedivision, and the rectangle-shaped image for the right eye which isobtained through the division are alternately aligned, is displayed onthe screen of the upper LCD 22. A user views the images through theparallax barrier in the upper LCD 22, so that the image for the righteye is viewed by the user's right eye, and the image for the left eye isviewed by the user's left eye. Thus, the stereoscopically visible imageis displayed on the screen of the upper LCD 22.

The outer imaging section 23 and the inner imaging section 24 each takean image in accordance with an instruction from the informationprocessing section 31, and output data of the taken image to theinformation processing section 31.

The 3D adjustment switch 25 transmits an electrical signal correspondingto the position of the slider 25 a, to the information processingsection 31.

The information processing section 31 controls whether or not the 3Dindicator 26 is to be lit up. For example, the information processingsection 31 lights up the 3D indicator 26 when the upper LCD 22 is in thestereoscopic display mode.

Next, an outline of a process assumed in the present embodiment will bedescribed. The game apparatus 10 of the present embodiment perform twotypes of communications called the “passing communication” and the“unnoticed communication” described below, as communications performedas background processes. Meanwhile, the game apparatus 10 has twostates, namely, the “sleep mode” and the “normal power mode”. Theprocess according to the present embodiment mainly relates to control ofthe above two types of communications in accordance with such two statesof the game apparatus 10.

[Entire Configuration of Network]

First, the entire configuration of a network assumed in the presentembodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustratingthe entirety of the network configuration according to the presentembodiment. The game apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4 uses the two maintypes of communication modes as described above. A first communicationmode is the “infrastructure communication” in which the Internet isused. In this mode, the game apparatus 10 performs communication with apredetermined server via an access point (hereinafter, referred tomerely as AP). In the present embodiment, the communication function ofthe “unnoticed communication” is implemented by using the communicationmode of the “infrastructure communication”. A second communication modeis the “ad hoc communication” in which game apparatuses are directlyconnected to each other not via the Internet. In the present embodiment,the two communication functions of the “passing communication” and the“local communication” are implemented by using the communication mode ofthe “ad hoc communication”. Hereinafter, an outline of these threecommunication functions will be described.

[Unnoticed Communication]

First, the “unnoticed communication” will be described. Thiscommunication function is communication performed in the background. Inthis communication function, the game apparatus 10 connects to apredetermined server via an AP and performs transmission/reception ofpredetermined data with the server. For example, the followingcommunication is performed. For example, the case is assumed where thegame apparatus 10 is in the “sleep mode”. In this case, when aconnectable AP is present near the game apparatus 10, the game apparatus10 automatically connects to the AP, and further automatically connectsto a predetermined server via the AP. Then, for example, a trial versionprogram of a new game is transmitted from the server, and received bythe game apparatus 10. Thereafter, various settings (an install processand the like) are performed such that the trial version program becomesexecutable. Thus, for example, when the user causes the game apparatus10 to shift to the “sleep mode” and goes out and then comes back homeand returns the game apparatus 10 to the “normal power mode”, the trialversion of the new game has been added to menu without making the usernotice it. Further, when the game apparatus 10 is in the “normal powermode” as well, the “unnoticed communication” is performed in thebackground. In such a case, for example, while a game is played, a trialversion program or the like as described above is received in thebackground, and when the user finishes playing the game and switches tothe home menu of the game apparatus 10, the trial version of the newgame has been added to the menu without making the user notice it. Itshould be noted that, in the present embodiment, a dedicated server isprovided as a server connected in the “unnoticed communication” (acommunication partner in the “unnoticed communication”), and it ispossible to connect to the dedicated server via any AP.

In the present embodiment, execution of the “unnoticed communication” ismanaged in a unit called “task”. A plurality of “tasks” can be defined.In each “task”, contents of data to be transmitted/received, a timing(schedule) to perform a transmission/reception process, and the like aredefined. Examples of contents performed in each “task” include “updateof a system” and “obtaining a trial version of a new game”. Further,there is a “task” of performing transmission/reception of predetermineddata for each of various applications installed in the game apparatus10. For example, in a racing game, such a task is a task of periodicallytransmitting a lap time of the user to a server and receiving data of anational ranking from the server.

In the present embodiment, on the basis of the execution scheduledefined in each “task”, it is determined whether or not the executiontime of each “task” has come. When there is a “task” of which theexecution time has come, transmission/reception of predetermined data isperformed with a predetermined server in accordance with the definedcontent of the “task”. Here, in the present embodiment, in order toperform the “unnoticed communication”, it is necessary to connect to apredetermined AP (and a server). Thus, even when the execution time of a“task” has come, if no AP is present within the communicable range ofthe game apparatus 10, the “unnoticed communication” based on the “task”cannot be performed at that time. In such a case, execution of this“task” is suspended, and transmission/reception is performed with theserver at a timing when the game apparatus 10 becomes communicable withan AP and the server.

As described above, the “unnoticed communication” is a process that is abackground process of automatically connecting to a predetermined servervia an AP and automatically performing transmission/reception ofpredetermined data.

It should be noted that the “infrastructure communication” is used fornot only the “unnoticed communication” but also a process in which theInternet is used by the user executing an application such as a webbrowser. In other words, when being connected to an AP, the gameapparatus 10 can perform the “unnoticed communication”, and also canperform communication for using the Internet (on the basis of anoperation of the user). However, a communication process using the“infrastructure communication” other than the “unnoticed communication”is not directly relevant to the present embodiment, and thus thedetailed description thereof is omitted.

[Passing Communication]

Next, the “passing communication” will be described. This process isalso a process performed in the background. In the “passingcommunication”, game apparatuses 10 are directly connected to each other(peer-to-peer connection), and transmission/reception of data, which ispreviously prepared for the “passing communication”, is performed.Specifically, a data area for the “passing communication” is previouslyprovided in the internal data storage memory 35 of each game apparatus10. This area is managed in a unit called “slot”. In the presentembodiment, 12 slots are previously provided. Each “slot” is associatedwith one of applications executable in the game apparatus 10. Each slotincludes a data area for transmission and a data area for reception. Thenumber of the slots is merely one example, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and the number of the slots may be less or more than12.

The “passing communication” is performed in the flow described below.The following assumption is made. First, while a predeterminedapplication is executed, transmission data for the “passingcommunication” is stored in the corresponding slot as appropriate (eachapplication has been associated with a slot). Then, the application isended, and the game apparatus 10 is caused to shift to the “sleep mode”by the user. Then, the user goes out with the game apparatus 10 andanother game apparatus 10 enters the communicable range of the gameapparatus 10. In this case, contents of slots corresponding to commonapplications are transmitted/received between the game apparatuses 10.In other words, transmission data in a slot of a game apparatus A istransmitted to a game apparatus B, and transmission data transmittedfrom the game apparatus B is received by the game apparatus A and storedas reception data. Thus, with regard to the common applicationsassociated with the slots of the game apparatuses,transmission/reception of data is performed. When there is no commonapplication in the slots of the game apparatuses, thetransmission/reception of data as described above is not performed, and,as a result, the “passing communication” is not performed.

As described above, the “passing communication” is communication inwhich transmission/reception (exchange) of data for the “passingcommunication” is automatically performed as a background processdirectly between the game apparatuses 10.

[Local Communication]

Next, the “local communication” will be described. This communication iscommunication performed in the foreground. For example, thiscommunication is performed while a versus game or the like is played. Inother words, the “local communication” corresponds to the case where thegame apparatuses 10 are connected to each other in the mode of the adhoc communication and a transmission/reception process of operation dataand the like of each game apparatus 10 is performed as part of a versusgame process. In other words, the “local communication” is notautomatically performed like the “passing communication”, and isperformed, for example, when the users desire to perform the “localcommunication” by input operations and agree with each other beforestarting the versus game.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the three types ofCommunication functions can be used. Here, on the assumption that thesecommunication functions are performed, a search process for determiningwhether or not a connection target is present within the communicablerange is needed. In other words, for the “unnoticed communication”, itis necessary to search for a connectable AP, and for the “passingcommunication” and the “local communication”, it is necessary to searchfor another game apparatus 10 that is connectable. Meanwhile, the gameapparatus 10 has only one wireless communication module 36 as describedabove. Thus, the above communication functions cannot be performedsimultaneously, and are selectively performed as appropriate inaccordance with the use situation. In the present embodiment, for the“unnoticed communication” and the “passing communication”, which arecommunications performed in the background, search switch control inpredetermined cycles is performed. Hereinafter, an outline of switchcontrol of searches for the “unnoticed communication” and the “passingcommunication”, which are performed in the background, (hereinafter, maybe collectively referred to as background search) will be described withcontrol in the “sleep mode” and control in the “normal power mode”.

[Switch Control in Sleep Mode]

First, switch control in the case of the “sleep mode” will be described.In the present embodiment, in this case, searches for the “unnoticedcommunication” and the “passing communication” are switched in cycles (asearch pattern) as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, initially, a period of 30seconds is set as a search period for the “passing communication”. Inother words, during this period of 30 seconds, the search for the“passing communication” (a search for another game apparatus 10) isperformed. Hereinafter, the search period for the “passingcommunication” may be referred to as a first allocation period. Then,the search process for the “unnoticed communication” is performed once.The search process is a process of searching for an AP, and a perioduntil a result of the search is obtained is unstable due to the radiofield intensity between an AP and the game apparatus and the like. Thus,in FIG. 5, as an example, the period is set to 5 to 10 seconds. Then,the search for the “passing communication” is performed for 30 secondsagain, and the search process for the “unnoticed communication” isperformed once. In other words, a pattern, in which the search processfor the “passing communication” is performed for 30 seconds and then thesearch process for the “unnoticed communication” is performed once, isrepeated.

When a connection target is found as a result of the search, the“passing communication” or the “unnoticed communication” is performed.When the “passing communication” or the “unnoticed communication” isstarted, the above search process is not performed until a series ofcommunication processes concerning the communication is completed. Forexample, even when, during the search period for the “passingcommunication”, another game apparatus 10 is found at an elapse of 25seconds and the “passing communication” is started, the search processfor an AP is not performed until a series of transmission/receptionprocesses concerning the “passing communication” is finished.

Here, an operation of the search for the “passing communication” duringthe period of 30 seconds (first allocation period) will be described inmore detail. In the present embodiment, in a process of establishing aconnection in the “passing communication”, either game apparatus servesas a “master apparatus”, and the other game apparatus serves as a “slaveapparatus”. Then, during the period of 30 seconds, the game apparatus 10performs the search process while selectively serving as a “masterapparatus” and a “slave apparatus”. Here, a mode in the case where thegame apparatus 10 serves as a “master apparatus” is referred to as“master mode”, and a mode in the case where the game apparatus 10 servesas a “slave apparatus” is referred to as “client mode”. In the “clientmode”, the game apparatus 10 broadcasts a beacon indicating that thegame apparatus 10 requests a connection. The beacon includes data (e.g.,a predetermined ID) indicating that this beacon is a beacon for the“passing communication”. Meanwhile, in the “master mode”, the gameapparatus 10 attempts to receive the beacon transmitted from anothergame apparatus 10 (that is, becomes a state of waiting for the beaconfrom another game apparatus 10). Specifically, in the “master mode”, thegame apparatus 10 receives a beacon and determines whether or not thereceived beacon includes data indicating that this beacon is a beaconfor the “passing communication”. When the data is not included, the gameapparatus 10 discards the beacon and performs reception of anotherbeacon. When the data is included, the game apparatus 10 performs aprocess for the “passing communication” (a connection establishingprocess, a data transmission/reception process, and the like).

Then, in the present embodiment, for example, the period of 30 secondsis divided into periods of 1 second (hereinafter, each period of 1second is referred to as a second allocation period). A mode switchpattern is set such that the game apparatus 10 basically operates in the“client mode” and shifts to the “master mode” once every 5 seconds.Since the power consumption in the “master mode” is greater than thepower consumption in the “client mode”, this switch cycle is derived inview of the balance between easiness of performing the “passingcommunication” and reduction of the power consumption.

As described above, in the “sleep mode”, the switch control is performedin the switch pattern in which the search for the “passingcommunication” is repeatedly performed for 30 seconds, then the searchfor the “unnoticed communication” is performed once, and then the searchfor the “passing communication” is performed for 30 seconds again. Inother words, control is performed in such a manner that the “passingcommunication” is prioritized over the “unnoticed communication”. In thecase of the “sleep mode”, it is typically considered that the gameapparatus 10 is carried outside the user's house with the housingclosed. Thus, this control is performed from the standpoint that anenvironment where communication is easily performed with another gameapparatus 10 by using the “passing communication” is provided to thegame apparatus 10.

[Switch Control in Normal Power Mode]

Next, an outline of switch control in the “normal power mode” will bedescribed. In this case as well, switch control of the background searchis basically performed in the same pattern as that in the case of the“sleep mode”. In other words, in this pattern, the search for the“passing communication” is performed for 30 seconds, then the search forthe “unnoticed communication” is performed once, and the search for the“passing communication” is performed for 30 seconds again. However,unlike the case of the “sleep mode”, in the case of the “normal powermode”, when a communicable AP is detected as a result of the search forthe “unnoticed communication” and a connection is established to the AP(and a server ahead of the AP), even after a series oftransmission/reception processes concerning the “unnoticedcommunication” is finished, the connection to the AP is not cut off butis maintained. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating an example ofsuch switch control in the normal power mode. When an AP is detected asa result of the search for the “unnoticed communication” and aconnection is established to the AP, the connection to the AP ismaintained until communication with the AP becomes disenabled (e.g.,until the game apparatus 10 is moved such that the AP is not presentwithin the communicable range of the game apparatus 10). In other words,in the “normal power mode”, control is performed in such a manner thatthe “unnoticed communication” (infrastructure communication) isprioritized. In the case of the “normal power mode”, a state where theuser uses the game apparatus 10 by performing an operation isconsidered. For example, the case where the user activates a browser anduses the Internet, and the case where the user desires to perform aprocess of displaying login states of friends registered in a so-called“friend list” for confirming the login states, are considered. In otherwords, there is a high possibility that it is necessary to perform aprocess using the “infrastructure communication”. In this respect, thiscontrol is performed such that a process based on the “infrastructurecommunication” is smoothly performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, with regard to thecommunication performed in the background, in the “sleep mode”, controlis performed such that the “passing communication” is easily performed,and in the “normal power mode”, control is performed such that the“unnoticed communication” (infrastructure communication) is easilyperformed. By so doing, the possibility of performing a desiredcommunication mode can be changed in accordance with the used state ofthe game apparatus 10.

It should be noted that when the user closes the housing and aninstruction to shift to the “sleep mode” is issued while communicationis performed in the background in the “normal power mode”, even thoughthe communication process is being performed, the communication processis stopped and the game apparatus 10 shifts to the “sleep mode”. Then,the background search process with the search pattern in the “sleepmode” as shown in FIG. 5 is started.

Next, switch control in the “normal power mode” between: the “passingcommunication” and the “unnoticed communication”, which are thebackground communications; and the “local communication”, which is theforeground process, will be described. Since the “passing communication”and the “unnoticed communication” are the background communications,communication can be performed in parallel with execution of apredetermined application. Meanwhile, the game apparatus 10 has only onewireless communication module 36 as described above. Thus, for example,when a versus game process (a foreground process) using the “localcommunication” is performed, the “local communication” cannot beperformed in a state where the wireless communication module 36 is usedin the background communication. Further, when the “local communication”is not performed in a foreground application but, for example,transmission/reception of large-sized data is performed in the“unnoticed communication”, the processing load temporarily increases dueto the influence of the transmission/reception, and the increase inprocessing load may influence the execution speed of the foregroundapplication. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the background searchand the like can be stopped by the application issuing an instruction tostop the background communication. By so doing, for example, when aversus game process is performed by using the “local communication” asdescribed above, an application for the versus game issues aninstruction to stop the background communication (to the system). Theprocess of the background communication and the background search thatare being performed are stopped in accordance with the instruction, andthe wireless communication module 36 is substantially unused. Then, theapplication for the versus game can perform a process concerning the“local communication” by using the wireless communication module 36.Then, when a notification of cancellation of the stop is issued from theapplication and the stop instruction is invalidated, and the backgroundsearch is started again (see FIG. 6B). It should be noted that anapplication that can issue a stop instruction is not limited to onebeing executed in the foreground, and an application being executed inthe background can issue a stop instruction.

Next, the above-described processes performed in the game apparatus 10will be described in detail. First, main programs and data that are usedin the processes will be described. Prior to this description,components that perform the processes in the present embodiment will bedescribed. In the present embodiment, the first microcomputer 37, thesecond microcomputer 361, and the CPU 311 independently performprocesses described below, and these processes are performed in acooperative manner and in parallel with each other.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating main data stored in a storage area (notshown) included in the first microcomputer 37. In the firstmicrocomputer 37, a program area 301 and a data area 303 are present. Inthe program area 301, a microcomputer process program 302 for the firstmicrocomputer 37 to perform processes is stored. In the data area 303, apower supply state flag 304 and a next wake-up time 305 are stored. Thepower supply state flag 304 indicates whether or not the game apparatus10 is in the “sleep mode”. When the power supply state flag 304 is setto ON, it indicates that the game apparatus 10 is in the “normal powermode”. When the power supply state flag 304 is set to OFF, it indicatesthat the game apparatus 10 is in the “sleep mode”. The next wake-up time305 is data indicating a time to cancel the “sleep mode”. For example,in the present embodiment, the earliest time among the next executiontimes set for the above tasks, respectively, is set as the next wake-uptime 305.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating main data stored in the RAM 362included in the wireless communication module 36. In the RAM 362, aprogram area 401 and a data area 403 are present. In the program area401, any one of a during-sleep BG communication process program 5021, a“passing communication” process program 5022, a “local communication”process program 5023, and an infrastructure communication program 5024,which will be described below, is selected as appropriate and stored. Inthe data area 403, information on APs and the like are stored. It shouldbe noted that the during-sleep BG communication process program 5021 andthe “passing communication” process program 5022 may be the same. Inthis case, each process operation can be changed by setting differentparameters.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating programs and data stored in theinternal data storage memory 35. These pieces of data are expanded onthe main memory 32 and executed as necessary. The internal data storagememory 35 has a program area 501, a system data area 504, and anapplication data area 513. In the program area 501, a system programarea 502 is provided, and a plurality of application programs (eachindicated as an nth application program in FIG. 9) is stored. In thesystem program area 502, a plurality of programs is stored as shown inFIG. 10. In FIG. 10, the during-sleep BG communication process program5021, the “passing communication” process program 5022, the “localcommunication” process program 5023, the infrastructure communicationprogram 5024, a normal time BG communication process program 5025, amanagement process program 5026, a game apparatus counter settingprocess program 5027, and an “unnoticed communication” process program5028 are stored in the system program area 502.

Here, the relation between: processes performed on the basis of theseprograms; and the first microcomputer 37, the second microcomputer 361,and the CPU 311 that perform these processes, will be described briefly.FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating each performing component and aprocess performed by each performing component in the “sleep mode”. FIG.12 is a diagram illustrating each performing component and a processperformed by each performing component in the “normal power mode”. InFIG. 11, by performing a microcomputer process, the first microcomputer37 performs management of the execution times of the above tasks (the“unnoticed communication”) and detection of opening/closing of thehousing. In addition, the second microcomputer 361 performs aduring-sleep BG communication process. This process is performed forperforming the background search and the like according to the switchpattern shown in FIG. 5. Since the game apparatus 10 is basically in the“sleep mode”, power is not supplied to the CPU 311 in this state.However, when, in the microcomputer process, it is detected that theexecution time of the task has come and it is determined that the gameapparatus 10 is in a state of being communicable with an AP, power istemporarily supplied to the CPU 311 and the CPU 311 performs a processconcerning the “unnoticed communication”. In addition, when, in amicrocomputer process of the wireless communication module 36, it isdetermined that an AP is found (detected), power is temporarily suppliedto the CPU 311 and the CPU 311 performs the process concerning the“unnoticed communication”. Further, when, in the microcomputer processof the wireless communication module 36, it is determined that anothergame apparatus is found (detected), power is temporarily supplied to theCPU 311 and the CPU 311 performs a data exchange process concerning the“passing communication”.

In FIG. 12, the first microcomputer 37 performs the same operation asthat in the “sleep mode”. The second microcomputer 361 performs any oneof the programs for the “passing communication”, the “localcommunication”, and the “infrastructure communication”, depending on thesituation. The CPU 311 performs a predetermined application process as aforeground process. In addition, the CPU 311 performs a managementprocess and a normal time BG communication process as backgroundprocesses. In the management process, monitoring of an instruction toactivate an application, monitoring of an instruction to stop thebackground communication from an application as described above, and thelike are mainly performed. The normal time BG communication process is aprocess for performing the “passing communication” or the “unnoticedcommunication” in the “normal power mode”. It should be noted that inthe present embodiment, a plurality of applications can be activated,but only one application is executed in the foreground and theapplications other than the application executed in the foreground areexecuted as background processes as appropriate.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the system data area 504 will be describednext. In the system data area 504, “passing communication” data 505,“unnoticed communication” data 506, an application counter 507, a gameapparatus counter 510, and the like are stored.

The “passing communication” data 505 is used in the “passingcommunication”. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a datastructure of the “passing communication” data 505. The “passingcommunication” data 505 consists of a set of slots 5051, and each slot50151 includes an application ID 5052, transmission data 5053, andreception data 5054. The application ID 5052 indicates an applicationassociated with the slot 5051. The transmission data 5053 is data to betransmitted to another game apparatus 10 in the “passing communication”.The reception data 5054 is data received from another game apparatus 10in the “passing communication”.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the “unnoticed communication” data 506 is usedin the “unnoticed communication”. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating anexample of a data structure of the “unnoticed communication” data 506.The “unnoticed communication” data 506 consists of a set of tasks 5061.Each task 5061 includes task content definition data 5062, transmissiondata 5063, reception data 5064, and the like. The task contentdefinition data 5062 defines an operation content of the task. Forexample, the task content definition data 5062 includes data (not shown)indicating a next execution time that is a time to execute the task thenext time. In addition, the task content definition data 5062 alsoincludes information indicating an application corresponding to the taskand information indicating the number of times the task has beenexecuted, an execution priority, and the like. The transmission data5063 is data to be transmitted to a predetermined server in the task.The reception data 5064 is data received from the predetermined serverin the task.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the application counter 507 is data used forcontrolling an instruction to stop the background communication whichinstruction is issued from an application as described above. Oneapplication counter 507 is allocated to one application being executed.Each application counter 507 includes a first stop counter 508 and asecond stop counter 509. The first stop counter 508 is used when it isdesired to stop the “passing communication”. In the process of eachapplication, when an instruction to stop the “passing communication” isissued, the value of the counter is increased. The second stop counter509 is used when it is desired to stop the “unnoticed communication”. Inthe process of each application, when an instruction to stop the“unnoticed communication” is issued, the value of the counter isincreased. When each application is executed, a plurality of functionalmodules constituting the application can be internally executed inparallel. The above stop instruction can be issued from each, functionalmodule, and thus the stop instructions are issued from a plurality offunctional modules in one application in some cases. In such cases, thevalue of the counter can be two or more.

The game apparatus counter 510 is data used for controlling aninstruction to stop the background communication, and includes a thirdstop counter 511 and a fourth stop counter 512. The third stop counter511 indicates the sum of the values of the first stop counters 508 of aplurality of the application counters 507, namely, the total number ofinstructions to stop the “passing communication”. The fourth stopcounter 512 indicates the sum of the values of the second stop counters509 of a plurality of the application counters 507, namely, the totalnumber of instructions to stop the “unnoticed communication”. Forexample, when a plurality of applications is being executed, if even oneof these applications issues an instruction to stop the “passingcommunication”, the process concerning the “passing communication” isstopped.

In the system data area 504, various pieces of data required for systemcontrol, such as operation data, are stored.

In the application data area 513, data used in each application isstored as appropriate. For example, if the content of an application isa versus game, various pieces of data used in the versus game processare stored in the application data area 513 as appropriate.

Next, the above-described processes performed by the game apparatus 10will be described in detail. First, the process performed by the firstmicrocomputer 37 will be described.

[Process Performed by First Microcomputer 37]

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the microcomputer process performedby the first microcomputer 37. The process shown in FIG. 15 is performedas a background process repeatedly in predetermined cycles, unless thepower of the game apparatus 10 is completely turned off.

In FIG. 15, at step S1, it is determined whether or not the gameapparatus 10 is in the “sleep mode”. Specifically, by referring to thepower supply state flag 304, it is determined whether or not the gameapparatus 10 is in the “sleep mode”. As a result of the determination,when the game apparatus 10 is not in the “sleep mode” (NO at step S1),the processing proceeds to below-described step S7. On the other hand,when the game apparatus 10 is in the “sleep mode” (YES at step S1), itis determined at step S2 whether or not a notification that an AP isdetected, which notification is issued from (the second microcomputer361 of) the wireless communication module 36, has been received (thenotification is issued at below-described step S24 in FIG. 16). As aresult of the determination, when the notification that an AP isdetected has not been issued from the wireless communication module 36(NO at step S2), the processing proceeds to below-described step S7. Onthe other hand, when the notification that an AP is detected has beenissued from the wireless communication module 36 (YES at step S2), atstep S4, an instruction to cancel the “sleep mode” and shift to the“normal power mode” is issued from the first microcomputer 37 to the CPU311, the power supply state flag 304 is set to ON, and a notificationthat the “sleep mode” is to be cancelled is issued from the firstmicrocomputer 37 to the power circuit 40. Further, an instruction toperform the “unnoticed communication” is also issued to the CPU 311.

Thereafter, power is temporarily supplied to the CPU 311 such that theCPU 311 becomes operable, and the CPU 311 performs the processconcerning the “unnoticed communication” as described below. Then, whenthe process is finished, a notification that the “unnoticedcommunication” has ended is transmitted from the CPU 311 to the firstmicrocomputer 37.

Next, at step S5, it is determined whether or not the notification thatthe “unnoticed communication” has ended has been received. As a result,when the notification has not been received (NO at step S5), thedetermination at step S5 is repeated (i.e., the first microcomputer 37waits until the “unnoticed communication” ends). On the other hand, whenthe notification has been received (YES at step S5), at step S6, aninstruction to shift to the “sleep mode” is issued from the firstmicrocomputer 37 to the CPU 311, the power supply state flag 304 is setto OFF, and a notification that the “sleep mode” is to be shifted to isissued from the first microcomputer 37 to the power circuit 40. Itshould be noted that the issuance of the instruction to cancel the“sleep mode” and shift to the “normal power mode” at step S4, thedetermination at step S5, and the issuance of the instruction to shiftto the “sleep mode” at step S6 may be performed by the secondmicrocomputer 361 of the wireless communication module 36, not by thefirst microcomputer 37.

Next, at step S7, it is determined whether or not the game apparatus 10has been shifted from a closed state (a state in which the housing isclosed) to an opened state (a state in which the housing is opened)(i.e., whether or not the game apparatus 10 has been opened).Specifically, the first microcomputer 37 determines whether or not adetection signal indicating that the housing is opened has been receivedfrom the open/close detector 46. As a result of the determination, whenit is determined that the game apparatus 10 has been shifted from theclosed state to the opened state (YES at step S7), at the next step S8,an instruction to cancel the “sleep mode” is issued from the firstmicrocomputer 37 to the CPU 311, the power supply state flag 304 is setto ON, and a notification that the “sleep mode” is to be cancelled isissued from the first microcomputer 37 to the power circuit 40.Accordingly, the power circuit 40 starts power supply to each componentof the game apparatus 10 as appropriate.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S7, when itis determined that the game apparatus 10 has not been shifted from theclosed state to the opened state (NO at step S7), it is determined atthe next step S9, on the basis of a signal from the open/close detector46, whether or not the game apparatus 10 has been shifted from theopened state to the closed state (i.e., whether or not the gameapparatus 10 has been closed). As a result, when it is determined thatthe game apparatus 10 has been shifted from the opened state to theclosed state (YES at step S9), at the next step S10, an instruction toshift to the “sleep mode” is issued from the first microcomputer 37 tothe CPU 311, the power supply state flag 304 is set to OFF, and anotification that the “sleep mode” is to be shifted to is issued fromthe first microcomputer 37 to the power circuit 40. Accordingly, thepower circuit 40 stops power supply to the components of the gameapparatus 10 other than some components, as appropriate. On the otherhand, as a result of the determination at step S9, when it is determinedthat the game apparatus 10 has not been shifted from the opened state tothe closed state (NO at step S9), the process at step S10 is skipped andthe microcomputer process ends.

[Process Performed by Second Microcomputer 361 in “Sleep Mod”]

Next, the during-sleep BG communication process performed by the secondmicrocomputer 361 in the “sleep mode” will be described with referenceto FIG. 16. First, at step S21, a passing communication process isperformed. This process is a process for repeating the search processfor the “passing communication” during the first allocation period (30seconds in the present embodiment) as described above and performing the“passing communication” with another game apparatus 10 if possible. FIG.17 is a flowchart illustrating details of the passing communicationprocess. In FIG. 17, first, at step S41, a mode setting process isperformed. This process is a process for performing setting of theclient mode and the master mode in the “passing communication” asdescribed above. In this process, it is determined whether the gameapparatus 10 operates in the “client mode” or the “master mode”. Inother words, by step S41 being repeatedly executed, it is repeatedly setwhether the game apparatus 10 operates in the “client mode” or the“master mode”.

Next, at step S42, as a result of the process at step S41, it isdetermined whether or not the game apparatus 10 is determined to operatein the “master mode”. As a result, when the game apparatus 10 does notoperate in the “master mode”, namely, operates in the “client mode” (NOat step S42), a search process in the “client mode” is performed at stepS43. In other words, a process of transmitting a beacon indicative ofrequesting another game apparatus to connect to the game apparatus 10 isperformed.

Next, at step S44, it is determined whether or not another gameapparatus 10 is detected, by determining whether or not a response tothe transmitted beacon has been received. As a result, when another gameapparatus 10 is not detected (NO at step S44), the processing proceedsto below-described step S46. On the other hand, when another gameapparatus 10 is detected (YES at step S44), the sleep state of the CPU311 is temporarily cancelled on the basis of a signal from the wirelesscommunication module 36 or the first microcomputer 37, and a connectionis established to the detected other game apparatus 10 and the “passingcommunication” is performed at step S45. In other words, the “passingcommunication” data 505 is referred to, and transmission/reception ofdata in slots having the common application ID 5052 is performed. Then,when data exchange in the “passing communication” is finished, the CPU311 shifts to the sleep state again.

Next, at step S46, it is determined whether or not the first allocationperiod (in the present embodiment, 30 seconds from start of the searchprocess for the “passing communication”) as shown in FIG. 5 has elapsed.As a result, when the first allocation period has elapsed (YES at stepS46), the passing communication process ends. On the other hand, whenthe first allocation period has not elapsed (NO at step S46), it isdetermined at the next step S47 whether or not the second allocationperiod (in the present embodiment, 1 second from end of setting of anoperating mode) has elapsed. As a result, when the second allocationperiod has not elapsed (NO at step S47), the processing returns to stepS43, and the search process in the “client mode” is repeated. On theother hand, when the second allocation period has elapsed (YES at stepS47), the processing returns to step S41, and the same process isrepeated starting with the mode setting process. In other words, it isset again whether the game apparatus 10 operates in the “client mode” orthe “master mode”.

Next, as a result of the determination at step S42, when the gameapparatus 10 operates in the “master mode” (YES at step S42), a searchprocess in the “master mode” is performed at step S48. In other words,reception of (waiting for) a beacon transmitted from another gameapparatus 10 operating in the “client mode” is performed.

Next, at step S49, it is determined whether or not another gameapparatus 10 is detected, by determining whether or not a beacon hasbeen received from the other game apparatus 10 (within a predeterminedtime period). As a result, when another game apparatus 10 is notdetected (NO at step S49), the processing proceeds to below-describedstep S51. On the other hand, when another game apparatus 10 is detected(YES at step S49), the sleep state of the CPU 311 is temporarilycancelled on the basis of a signal from the wireless communicationmodule 36 or the first microcomputer 37, and a connection is establishedto the detected other game apparatus 10 and the “passing communication”is performed at step S50, similarly to step S45. Then, when dataexchange in the “passing communication” is finished, the CPU 311 shiftsto the sleep state again.

Next, at step S51, it is determined whether or not the first allocationperiod has elapsed. As a result, when the first allocation period haselapsed (YES at step S51), the passing communication process ends. Onthe other hand, when the first allocation period has not elapsed (NO atstep S51), it is determined at the next step S52 whether or not thesecond allocation period has elapsed. As a result, when the secondallocation period has not elapsed (NO at step S52), the processingreturns to step S48, and the search process in the “master mode” isrepeated. On the other hand, when the second allocation period haselapsed (YES at step S52), the processing returns to step S41, and thesame process is repeated starting with the mode setting process. Inother words, it is set again whether the game apparatus 10 operates inthe “client mode” or the “master mode”. This is the end of thedescription of the passing communication process.

Referring back to FIG. 16, when the passing communication process ends,a search process for the “unnoticed communication” is performed next.Specifically, first, at step S22, a simple search process for an AP isperformed. In the search process performed here, a search for an AP isperformed by passive scan. In addition, since the second microcomputer361 performs this process, a search process involving complicatedprocesses (requiring an operation performed by the CPU 311) is notperformed, and a search process that is a relatively simple process isperformed.

Next, at step S23, it is determined whether or not an AP is detected asa result of the search process. As a result, when no AP is detected (NOat step S23), the processing returns to step S21, and the same processis repeated. On the other hand, when an AP is detected (YES at stepS23), a notification that the AP is detected is transmitted to the firstmicrocomputer 37 at step S24 (this notification is used for thedetermination at step S2 in the microcomputer process in FIG. 15). As aresult, the sleep state of the CPU 311 is temporarily cancelled on thebasis of a signal from the first microcomputer 37, and an “unnoticedcommunication” process described below is performed. In this case, withregard to the program stored in the RAM 362 of the wirelesscommunication module 36, the during-sleep BG communication processprogram 5021 is replaced with the “infrastructure communication” program5024. Thus, the during-sleep BG communication process actually endshere. Then, when the “unnoticed communication” ends and the CPU 311shifts to the sleep state again, the during-sleep BG communicationprocess program 5021 is stored in the RAM 362 of the wirelesscommunication module 36, and the same process is performed from stepS21. This is the end of the description of the during-sleep BGcommunication process.

[Process Performed by CPU 311 in “Normal Power Mode”]

Next, a process performed by the CPU 311 mainly in the “normal powermode” will be described. First, a management process performed (maderesident and performed) as a background process in the “normal powermode” will be described. This process is also a process performedinitially when power is supplied to the CPU 311.

[Management Process]

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating details of the management process.First, at step S71, it is determined whether or not the CPU 311 is in astate where the CPU 311, has received a sleep cancellation instructionfrom the first microcomputer 37 and has just returned from the “sleepmode”. As a result, when the CPU 311 is in the state of having justreturned from the “sleep mode” (YES at step S71), a sleep cancellationprocess is performed at step S72. This process is a process forpreparation for the game apparatus 10 to operate in the “normal powermode”. For example, a process of restarting an application process beingstopped due to the shift to the “sleep mode” is performed. Start of anormal time BG communication process described below is also instructed.On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S71, whenthe CPU 311 is not in the state of having just returned from the “sleepmode” (NO at step S71), the process at step S72 is skipped.

Next, at step S73, it is determined whether or not an instruction toactivate a predetermined application has been issued. For example, in astate where a home menu (not shown) of the game apparatus 10 isdisplayed, when an icon indicating a predetermined application isselected by the user, an instruction to activate the selectedapplication is issued from an application that controls the home menu.As a result of the determination, when it is determined that aninstruction to activate an application occurs (YES at step S73), anapplication counter 507 associated with the application instructed to beactivated is generated and stored in the main memory 32 at step S74.Then, at step S75, a process of the application instructed to beactivated is generated, whereby the application is activated.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S73, when aninstruction to activate an application has not been issued, theprocesses at steps S74 and S75 are skipped.

Next, at step S76, it is determined whether or not an application endnotification (issued at below-described step S122 in FIG. 22) has beenissued from any one of applications being currently executed. As aresult, when the end notification has not been issued (NO at step S76),the processing proceeds to below-described step S78. On the other hand,when the end notification has been issued (YES at step S76), a processof deleting the process of the application that has issued thenotification is performed at step S77.

Next, at step S78, a process for adjusting the number of the applicationcounters 507 in accordance with the number of the applications beingcurrently executed is performed. Specifically, it is checked whetherthere is any application counter 507 of which a process of thecorresponding application is not present, and when such an applicationcounter 507 remains, a process of deleting the application counter 507is performed. For example, this process is a process for, when anapplication is force-quitted or abends due to a certain reason,preventing the application counter 507 corresponding to the applicationfrom remaining. In addition, when there is an application counter 507 tobe deleted, it is checked whether or not the value of each of the firststop counter 508 and the second stop counter 509 of this applicationcounter 507 is equal to or higher than 1. When there is a counter whosevalue is equal to or higher than 1, a process of decreasing the value ofthe game apparatus counter 510 as appropriate is also performed.Specifically, when the value of the first stop counter 508 of theapplication counter 507 to be deleted is equal to or higher than 1, 1 issubtracted from the value of the third stop counter 511. When the valueof the second stop counter 509 is equal to or higher than 1, 1 issubtracted from the value of the fourth stop counter 512. When there aretwo or more application counters 507 to be deleted, the abovedetermination is performed for each application counter 507. Forexample, when there are three application counters 507 to be deleted andthere are two application counters 507 each of which the value of thefirst stop counter 508 is equal to or higher than 1, 2 is subtractedfrom the value of the third stop counter 511.

Next, at step S79, a game apparatus counter setting process isperformed. This process is a process of checking the state of eachapplication counter 507 at this time point and setting the gameapparatus counter 510 in accordance with the content of each applicationcounter 507. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating details of thisprocess.

First, at step S92, it is determined whether or not a process describednext has been performed for all the application counters 507 in thesystem data area 504. As a result, when any unprocessed applicationcounters 507 remain (NO at step S92), one counter is selected from theunprocessed application counters 507 at step S93. Hereinafter, theselected application counter 507 is referred to as process targetapplication counter.

Next, at step S94, it is determined whether or not the value of thefirst stop counter 508 of the process target application counter isequal to or higher than 1. In other words, it is determined whether ornot the application corresponding to the process target applicationcounter has instructed to stop a process concerning the “passingcommunication”. As a result of the determination, when the value of thefirst stop counter 508 is equal to higher than 1 (YES at step S94), itis determined at step S95 whether or not the value of the first stopcounter 508 of the process target application counter is 0 in the lastprocess loop (i.e., whether a stop instruction is newly issued at thistime or has been previously issued). As a result, when the value is 0 atthe last time (YES at step S95), it means that the stop instruction isnewly issued at this time, and thus 1 is added to the value of the thirdstop counter 511 of the game apparatus counter 510 at step S96. On theother hand, when the value is not 0 (NO at step S95), it means that thestop instruction has been previously issued, and thus the process atstep S96 is skipped. On the other hand, as a result of the determinationat step S94, when the value of the first stop counter 508 is not equalto or higher than 1, namely, is 0 (NO at step S94), it is determined atstep S100 whether or not the value of the first stop counter 508 of theprocess target application counter is equal to or higher than 1 in thelast process loop (i.e., whether or not a stop cancellation instructionis newly issued at this time). As a result, when the value is equal toor higher than 1 (YES at step S100), it means that the stop cancellationinstruction is newly issued at this time, and thus 1 is subtracted fromthe value of the third stop counter 511 at step S101 (it should be notedthat this subtraction is not performed when the value of the third stopcounter 511 is already 0 as a result of the game apparatus counter 510being adjusted due to the force-quit of the application or the like inthe process at step S78 in FIG. 18). Then, the processing proceeds tobelow-descried step S97. On the other hand, when the value of the firststop counter 508 is not equal to or higher than 1 (NO at step S100), itmeans that the stop cancellation instruction has been previously issued,and thus the process at step S101 is skipped.

Next, at step S97, it is determined whether or not the value of thesecond stop counter 509 of the process target application counter isequal to or higher than 1. In other words, it is determined whether ornot the application corresponding to the process target applicationcounter has instructed to stop the process concerning the “unnoticedcommunication”. As a result of the determination, when the value of thesecond stop counter 509 is equal to or higher than 1 (YES at step S97),it is determined at step S98 whether or not the value of the second stopcounter 509 of the process target application counter is 0 in the lastprocess loop. As a result, when the value is 0 at the last time (YES atstep S98), 1 is added to the value of the fourth stop counter 512 of thegame apparatus counter 510 at step S99. Then, the processing returns tostep S92, and the same process is repeated. On the other hand, when thevalue is not 0 (NO at step S98), the process at step S99 is skipped. Onthe other hand, as a result of the determination at step S97, when thevalue of the second stop counter 509 is not equal to or higher than 1,namely, is 0 (NO at step S97), it is determined at step S102 whether ornot the value of the second stop counter 509 of the process targetapplication counter is equal to or higher than 1 in the last processloop. As a result, when the value is equal to or higher than 1 (YES atstep S102), 1 is subtracted from the value of the fourth stop counter512 at step S103 (it should be noted that this subtraction is notperformed when the value of the fourth stop counter 512 is already 0 inthe process at step S78). Then, the processing returns to step S92. Onthe other hand, when the value of the second stop counter 509 is notequal to or higher than 1 (NO at step S102), the process at step S103 isskipped and the processing returns to step S92.

By the processes as described above, a stop instruction or a stopcancellation instruction from an application can be reflected in thevalue of the game apparatus counter 510. In other words, when a stopinstruction is issued from an application, the value of the gameapparatus counter 510 is increased. Then, when cancellation of the stopinstruction is instructed, the value of the game apparatus counter 510is decreased.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S92, when itis determined that the above-described process has been performed forall the application counters 507 in the system data area 504 (YES atstep S92), the game apparatus counter setting process ends.

Referring back to FIG. 18, at the next step S80, it is determinedwhether or not an instruction to shift to the “sleep mode” has beenissued from the first microcomputer 37. As a result, when theinstruction has not been issued (NO at step S80), the processing returnsto step S73, and the same process is repeated. On the other hand, whenthe instruction has been issued (YES at step S80), a sleep state shiftprocess is performed at step S81. Specifically, when the process of the“passing communication” or the “unnoticed communication” is beingperformed at this time point, this process is stopped. Further, theduring-sleep BG communication process program 5021 is copied into theRAM 362 of the wireless communication module 36. Thus, in the “sleepmode”, the wireless communication module 36 can perform the during-sleepBG communication process shown in FIG. 16. As a result, even if aninstruction to stop the “passing communication” or the “unnoticedcommunication” has been issued from a predetermined application asdescribed below, when the game apparatus 10 shifts to the “sleep mode”,the application is stopped, and thus the “passing communication” and the“unnoticed communication” can be performed regardless of the instruction(the value of the counter). In addition, various processes for shiftingto the “sleep mode”, such as stopping applications being executed andstoring states of the applications at that moment, are also performed.Then, the management process ends.

[Application Process]

Next, a process of an application activated in accordance with anactivation instruction from the user and the management processdescribed above will be described. The application process can beperformed as a foreground process and also can be performed as abackground process. As a matter of course, a specific process content isdifferent between each application. Thus, the description concerning thedifference is omitted, and a part relevant to the present embodiment,namely, a process concerning the application counter 507 will be mainlydescribed as a process content common to each application, namely, as aprocess that is thought to be performed generally in each application.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating details of the application process.First, at step S111, the application counter 507 corresponding to theapplication is initialized. In other words, the values of the first stopcounter 508 and the second stop counter 509 are set to 0.

Next, at step S112, various information processing corresponding to thecontent of each application is performed. For example, game processing,painting software processing, camera application processing, or thelike, is performed. In this processing, a process concerning the “localcommunication” can be also performed as appropriate. In this case,before the process of the “local communication” is performed, aninstruction to stop communication as described below is issued. Then,stop of the process concerning the “passing communication” or the“unnoticed communication” is confirmed, then the “local communication”process program 5023 is copied into the RAM 362 of the wirelesscommunication module 36, and the process concerning the “localcommunication” is started. As a matter of course, in addition to thecase of performing the “local communication”, a stop instruction may beissued for the purpose of reducing the processing load. In such a case,the application does not necessarily need to wait until stop ofcommunication is confirmed.

Next, at step S113, it is determined whether or not an instruction tostop the “passing communication” has been issued as a result of theabove various information processing. Here, in the present embodiment,it is assumed that each application consists of a set of programs eachhaving a specific function. It is also assumed that the stop instructioncan be issued by each program constituting the application. Thus, insome cases, the stop instruction is issued from two programs among theprogram group constituting the application. In such eases, there are twostop instructions.

As a result of the determination at step S113, when one or moreinstructions to stop the “passing communication” have been issued (YESat step S113), the value of the first stop counter 508 is increased inaccordance with the number of the issued stop instructions at step S114.On the other hand, when no stop instruction has been issued (NO at stepS113), the process at step S114 is skipped.

Next, at step S115, it is determined whether or not an instruction tostop the “unnoticed communication” has been issued as a result of thevarious information processing at step S112. This stop instruction alsocan be issued by each program constituting the application, similarly tothe case of the “passing communication”. As a result of thedetermination, when one or more instructions to stop the “unnoticedcommunication” have been issued (YES at step S115), the value of thesecond stop counter 509 is increased in accordance with the number ofthe issued stop instructions at step S116. On the other hand, when nostop instruction has been issued (NO at step S115), the process at stepS116 is skipped.

Next, at step S117, it is determined whether or not an instruction tocancel stop of the “passing communication” has been issued as a resultof the various information processing at step S112. For example, when apredetermined process ends and it is not necessary to stop the “passingcommunication” after a program issues an instruction to stop the“passing communication”, an instruction to cancel the stop is issuedfrom this program. As a result of the determination, when one or moreinstructions to cancel stop of the “passing communication” have beenissued (YES at step S117), the value of the first stop counter 508 isdecreased in accordance with the number of the issued cancellationinstructions at step S118. On the other hand, when no cancellationinstruction has been issued (NO at step S117), the process at step S118is skipped.

Next, at step S119, it is determined whether or not an instruction tocancel stop of the “unnoticed communication” has been issued as a resultof the various information processing at step S112. As a result of thedetermination, when one or more instructions to cancel stop of the“unnoticed communication” have been issued (YES at step S119), the valueof the second stop counter 509 is decreased in accordance with thenumber of the issued cancellation instructions at step S120. On theother hand, when no cancellation instruction has been issued (NO at stepS119), the process at step S120 is skipped.

Next, at step S121, it is determined whether or not an instruction toend the application has been issued. As a result, when the instructionto end the application has not been issued (NO at step S121), theprocessing returns to step S112, and the same process is repeated. Onthe other hand, when the instruction to end the application has beenissued (YES at step S121), a process of notifying the system of end ofthe application is performed at step S122. In accordance with thenotification, a process of deleting the process of the application andthe like is performed on the system side as appropriate. Then, theapplication process ends.

[Normal Time BG Communication Process]

Next, the normal time BG communication process performed as a backgroundprocess in the “normal power mode” will be described. This process is aprocess for performing the “passing communication” or the “unnoticedcommunication” in the background in the “normal power mode”.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating details of the normal time BGcommunication process. First, at step S131, the game apparatus counter510 is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the value of thethird stop counter 511 is equal to or higher than 1. In other words, itis determined whether or not the number of applications that desire tostop the process concerning the “passing communication” is equal to orhigher than 1. As a result of the determination, when the number isequal to or higher than 1 (YES at step S131), at least one applicationthat has issued an instruction to stop the “passing communication” ispresent. In this case, next, at step S135, it is determined whether ornot the value of the third stop counter 511 is 0 in the last processloop. As a result, when the value is 0 at the last time (YES at stepS135), a process for stopping the process concerning the “passingcommunication” is performed at step S136. Specifically, a process ofinstructing the second microcomputer 361 of the wireless communicationmodule 36 to stop the “passing communication” process being performedand the like is performed (when the “passing communication” is not beingperformed at this time point, the process at step S136 may be skipped).Then, the processing proceeds to below-described step S137.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S131, whenthe value of the third stop counter 511 is not equal to or higher than1, namely, is 0 (NO at step S131), there is no application that desiresto stop the process concerning the “passing communication”. In thiscase, next, at step S132, it is determined whether or not the “passingcommunication” process program 5022 is stored in the RAM 362 of thewireless communication module 36 (e.g., when the value of the third stopcounter 511 is 0 and the value of the fourth stop counter 512 is equalto or higher than 1, the “passing communication” process program 5022remains stored in the RAM 362 of the wireless communication module 36).As a result, when the “passing communication” process program 5022 isnot stored in the RAM 362 (NO at step S132), the “passing communication”process program 5022 is copied into the RAM 362 of the wirelesscommunication module 36 at step S133. On the other hand, as a result ofthe determination at step S132, when the “passing communication” processprogram 5022 has been already stored in the RAM 362 (YES at step S132),the process at step S133 is skipped.

Next, at step S134, an instruction to perform the “passingcommunication” process is issued to the second microcomputer 361. Inaccordance with the instruction, the second microcomputer 361 starts the“passing communication” process (as a result, the “passingcommunication” is performed in the background). The “passingcommunication” process is the same as the process described withreference to FIG. 17, and thus the description thereof is omitted.Further, when the passing communication process is started, a process ofwaiting until its end is also performed. In the present embodiment, theCPU 311 waits for at least 30 seconds (the first allocation period).

Next, at step S137, it is determined whether or not the value of thefourth stop counter 512 is equal to or higher than 1. In other words, itis determined whether or not there is any application that desires tostop the process concerning the “unnoticed communication”. As a result,when the value is equal to or higher than 1 (YES at step S137), aninstruction to stop the “unnoticed communication” has been issued. Inthis case, it is determined whether or not the value of the fourth stopcounter 512 is 0 in the last process loop. As a result, when the valueis 0 at the last time (YES at step S138), a process for stopping theprocess concerning the “unnoticed communication” is performed at stepS139 (when the “unnoticed communication” is not being performed at thistime point, the process at step S139 may be skipped). Then, theprocessing returns to step S131, and the same process is repeated.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S137, whenthe value of the fourth stop counter 512 is not equal to or higher than1, namely, is 0 (NO at step S137), the process concerning the “unnoticedcommunication” is performed. In this case, first, at step S140, it isdetermined whether or not the infrastructure communication program 5024is stored in the RAM 362 of the wireless communication module 36 (e.g.,when the value of the third stop counter 511 is equal to or higher than1 and the value of the fourth stop counter 512 is 0, the infrastructurecommunication program 5024 remains stored in the RAM 362 of the wirelesscommunication module 36). As a result, when the infrastructurecommunication program 5024 is not stored in the RAM 362 (NO at stepS140), the infrastructure communication program 5024 is copied into theRAM 362 of the wireless communication module 36 at step S141. Theinfrastructure communication program 5024 is a program for the wirelesscommunication module 36 to implement the infrastructure communicationfunction, and is, for example, a program for communicating with an AP ora server on the basis of the TCP/IP protocol. Since a basic controlmethod and the like in the program has been already known to one skilledin the art, the detailed description thereof is omitted. On the otherhand, when the infrastructure communication program 5024 has beenalready stored in the RAM 362 (YES at step S140), the process at stepS141 is skipped.

Next, at step S142, a process of searching for an AP is performed. Inthis process, a process of searching for an AP is performed incooperation with the infrastructure communication program 5024 executedin the wireless communication module 36. This search process can beperformed as a more complicated process than the simple search processfor AP performed in the “sleep mode” (step S22 in FIG. 16).Specifically, in addition to passive scan, so-called active scan is alsoused as appropriate. This is for also enabling a connection to an AP,for example, using an SSID stealth function. It is not necessarilynecessary to use active scan in combination, and only passive scan maybe used.

Next, at step S143, it is determined whether or not an AP is detected asa result of the search. As a result, when no AP is detected (NO at stepS143), the processing returns to step S131, and the same process isrepeated. On the other hand, when an AP is detected (YES at step S143),a process of establishing a connection to the AP is performed at stepS144.

Next, at step S145, the “unnoticed communication” process is performed.This process will be described in detail below.

When the “unnoticed communication” process ends, it is determined atstep S146 whether or not a state of being communicable with the APconnected at step S144 continues. For example, it can be determinedwhether or not the communicable state continues, by periodicallydetecting a beacon transmitted from the connected AP (even after theconnection is established) or the like. By so doing, for example, it canbe determined whether or not the game apparatus 10 has moved out of thecommunicable range of the AP. As a result, when the communicable statecontinues (YES at step S146), it is determined at the subsequent stepS147 whether or not the value of the fourth stop counter 512 is equal toor higher than 1. As a result, when the value is not equal to or higherthan 1 (NO at step S147), the processing returns to step S145, and thesame process is repeated. In other words, the connection to the APcontinues to be maintained. On the other hand, when the value is equalto or higher than 1 (YES at step S147), the processing returns to stepS131, and the same process is repeated. As a result, (unless a stopinstruction has been issued), the process concerning the “passingcommunication” is performed (in the wireless communication module 36).There is the possibility that an instruction to stop the “unnoticedcommunication” is issued from an application even when the connection tothe AP is maintained. This determination is performed for reflecting theinstruction. This is the end of the description of the normal time BGcommunication process.

[Unnoticed Communication Process]

Next, the “unnoticed communication” process at step S141 will bedescribed in detail. FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating details of the“unnoticed communication” process. First, at step S151, it is determinedwhether or not this process has been called in the “sleep mode”. Inother words, it is determined whether or not this process is performedin accordance with the process at step S4 in the microcomputer process.As a result of the determination, when this process has been called inthe “sleep mode” (YES at step S151), the infrastructure communicationprogram 5024 is copied into the RAM 362 of the wireless communicationmodule 36 at step S152. As a result, the wireless communication module36 becomes a state of enabling the infrastructure communication functionto be implemented. Next, at step S153, a process of establishing aconnection to an AP detected in the “sleep mode” (the AP detected as aresult of step S22 in FIG. 16) is performed. Then, the processingproceeds to below-described step S154.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S151, whenthis process has not been called in the “sleep mode” (NO at step S151),it means that this process has been called in the “normal power mode”,and thus the processes at steps S152 and S153 are skipped.

Next, at step S154, the “unnoticed communication” data 506 is referredto, and tasks scheduled to be executed at this time point (includingtasks of which the scheduled execution times have been passed and thathave not been executed) are extracted. Next, at step S155, it isdetermined whether or not the following process has been performed forall the extracted tasks scheduled to be executed. As a result, when anyunexecuted tasks remain (NO at step S155), one task is selected as anexecution target task from the unexecuted tasks at the next step S156.

Next, at step S157, the task content definition data 5062 of theexecution target task is referred to, and transmission/reception of dataand the like are performed with a predetermined server on the basis ofthe defined content.

Next, at step S158, it is determined whether or not the state of beingcommunicable with the AP continues (whether or not the game apparatus 10has moved out of the communicable range of the AP). As a result, whenthe communicable state continues (YES at step S158), the processingreturns to step S155, and the same process is repeated.

On the other hand, when it is determined at step S158 that thecommunicable state does not continue (NO at step S158), or when it isdetermined at step S155 that all the tasks scheduled to be executed havebeen executed (YES at step S155), it is determined at step S159 whetheror not this process has been called in the “sleep mode”, similarly tostep S151. As a result, when this process has been called in the “sleepmode” (YES at step S159), a process for returning to the “sleep mode”again is performed. First, at step S160, the during-sleep BGcommunication process program 5021 is copied into the RAM 362 of thewireless communication module 36. By so doing, the wirelesscommunication module 36 becomes a state of being capable of performingthe during-sleep BG communication process shown in FIG. 16. Next, atstep S161, a notification that the unnoticed communication has ended istransmitted to the first microcomputer 37. As a result, an instructionto shift to the “sleep mode” is issued from the first microcomputer 37to the CPU 311 (the process at step S6 in FIG. 15).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination at step S159, whenthis process has not been called in the “sleep mode” (NO at step S159),it means that this process has been called in the “normal power mode”,and thus the processes at steps S160 and S161 are skipped and the“unnoticed communication” process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the two types ofsearches, the search for the “passing communication” and the search forthe “unnoticed communication”, are repeatedly performed as backgroundprocesses. Then, the “passing communication” is performed when anothergame apparatus 10 is detected in the search for the “passingcommunication”, and the “unnoticed communication” is automaticallyperformed when an AP is detected in the search for the “unnoticedcommunication”. Further, the two types of searches are automatically andalternately performed in predetermined cycles. By so doing, the twotypes of communications are automatically performed, and communicationshaving various contents can be performed without making the user awareof it. In addition, two types of communications, communication with aterminal at a close place and communication with a connection target ata distant place (in a sense of network) such as a server, can beperformed seamlessly. Moreover, since the search for the “passingcommunication” and the search for the “unnoticed communication” arealternately performed, both communications can be performed averagely(evenly) to some extent. For example, when the number of other gameapparatuses 10 is much larger than the number of APs in an event site,the “passing communication” can be prevented from being performed veryoften, and the “unnoticed communication” can be performed often to someextent.

With regard to the search pattern, in the embodiment described above, inthe “sleep mode”, the search period of 30 seconds is provided for the“passing communication”, and then the search for the “unnoticedcommunication” is performed once. In other words, setting is made suchthat the “passing communication” is more likely to occur. Meanwhile, inthe “normal power mode”, control is performed such that when the gameapparatus 10 is connected to an AP, the state of being connected to theAP is maintained until communication with the AP becomes disenabled, andthe “passing communication” is not performed during the period. In otherwords, in the “sleep mode”, occurrence of the “passing communication” isprioritized, and in the “normal power mode”, occurrence of the“unnoticed communication” (further, various communication processesusing infrastructure communication) is prioritized. Thus, communicationmore suitable for the used state of the game apparatus 10 can be easilyperformed.

In the “normal power mode”, it is possible to issue an instruction tostop the search process for the “passing communication” or the“unnoticed communication”, from an application. Thus, the backgroundcommunication can be stopped in accordance with an instruction from anapplication, and an appropriate communication process can be performedin accordance with the process content of an application to be executed.In addition, the processing load at execution of an application can bereduced, and a more flexible environment for developing an applicationcan be provided to a developer. Further, the number of applicationsissuing stop instructions is counted by using the game apparatus counter510. Thus, for example, even when stop instructions are issued fromthree applications and then any one of the applications cancels the stopinstruction, stop of communication can be prevented from being cancelledimmediately. In other words, control can be performed such that a stopinstruction from an application is preferentially reflected.

With regard to the “passing communication” described above, in theembodiment described above, the “passing communication” may occur aplurality of times during 30 seconds (during the first allocationperiod). In another embodiment, when the “passing communication” isperformed and completed once during 30 seconds, even if 30 seconds hasnot elapsed, the “passing communication” process may be ended to shiftto the search for the “unnoticed communication”. Specifically, when theprocess at step S45 or S50 in FIG. 17 is performed, the “passingcommunication” process may end subsequently.

In the embodiment described above, the search pattern is repeated inwhich the search for the “passing communication” is performed for 30seconds and then the search for the “unnoticed communication” isperformed once. The search pattern (the condition of switching the twotypes of searches) may be changeable. For example, data that defines thesearch pattern may be prepared in a predetermined server. Then, the datathat defines the search pattern may be received from the server by usingthe “unnoticed communication”, and the search pattern may be changed inthe game apparatus 10 in accordance with a content of the data.

In the embodiment described above, the search for the “passingcommunication” and the search for the “unnoticed communication” arealternately performed. At this time, control may be performed such thatwhen a connection target detected in the search is the same as a targetconnected at the last time, the game apparatus 10 does not connect tothis target. For example, it is assumed that the “unnoticedcommunication” is performed and then the “passing communication” isperformed. Then, when an AP detected as a result of the search for the“unnoticed communication” is the same as an AP connected just before,another AP may not be searched for, the “unnoticed communication”process may not be performed, and the search for the “passingcommunication” may be performed immediately.

With regard to the search process, in the embodiment described above,the pattern has been described in which the search for the “passingcommunication” and the search for the “unnoticed communication” arealternately performed. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto, and the search for the “passing communication” and the searchfor the “unnoticed communication” may be performed together in onesearch. For example, an operation having the “master mode” and so-calledpassive scan may be performed. In other words, in a search operation inwhich the game apparatus 10 waits for a beacon, the game apparatus 10 isconfigured to receive a beacon for the “passing communication” and abeacon transmitted from an AR Then, it may be determined whether areceived beacon is a beacon for the “passing communication” or a beacontransmitted from an AP, and the “passing communication” process or the“unnoticed communication” process may be selected and performed asappropriate in accordance with the result of the determination. In otherwords, the search for the “passing communication” and the search for the“unnoticed communication” are not separated from each other, and thecontent of a communication process to be performed may be changed asappropriate in accordance with the type of a received beacon.

In the case where the content of the communication process to beperformed is changed as appropriate in accordance with the type of areceived beacon as described above, for example, communication processescorresponding to types of beacons that received during a given periodmay be performed in order by using a concept of queue. For example, itis assumed that three beacons are received in one search, two of thebeacons are beacons for the “passing communication” and the rest is abeacon from an AP. In this case, the “passing communication”, and the“unnoticed communication” may be performed in order of reception of thebeacons. For example, as a result of one search, three communicationprocesses may be performed in order of “passing communication” “passingcommunication” “unnoticed communication”. Other than the order ofreception of the beacons, the execution order may be determined inaccordance with a priority. For example, when control is desired to beperformed such that the “passing communication” is preferentiallyperformed, a priority is set such that the “unnoticed communication” isperformed after the “passing communication” is preferentially performed.When control is desired to be performed such that the “unnoticedcommunication” is preferentially performed, a priority is set such thatthe “passing communication” is performed after the “unnoticedcommunication” is performed. When control is desired to be performedsuch that the “passing communication” and the “unnoticed communication”are alternately performed, a priority may be set such that the “passingcommunication” and the “unnoticed communication” are alternatelyperformed.

With regard to transmission/reception of data performed in the “passingcommunication”, the infrastructure communication may be further used. Inother words, when another game apparatus 10 is present nearby, the“passing communication” may be performed as described above, and whenanother game apparatus 10 is not present nearby and it is in a situationwhere the infrastructure communication is possible,transmission/reception of the “passing communication” data 505 may beperformed with another game apparatus 10 in the same situation by usingthe infrastructure communication. For example, transmission/reception ofthe “passing communication” data 505 may be performed between gameapparatuses that are located in the same region. In other words, gameapparatuses 10 that are located at positions close to each other to someextent may perform a process similar to the “passing communication”described above, by using the infrastructure communication, therebycomplementing the “passing communication”. This is useful for asituation where there are a small number of other users having gameapparatuses 10 near the user due to a regional circumstance or the like.In addition, when an AP is present in the communicable range of the gameapparatus 10 in the “normal power mode”, a connection to the AP ismaintained and the search for the “passing communication” cannot beperformed. Thus, this configuration is also useful for preventing thepassing communication from being performed in such a situation.

With regard to the instruction to stop the background communicationwhich instruction is issued from an application, in the embodimentdescribed above, when a stop instruction is issued from any oneapplication, the background communication is stopped in accordance withthe instruction. In another embodiment, the background communication maybe stopped when the number of applications issuing instructions to stopthe background communication, among applications being executed, isequal to or higher than a predetermined number, or it may be determinedwhether or not to stop the background communication, by majority vote.

With regard to the application counter 507, in the embodiment describedabove, a stop instruction can be issued by each program constituting anapplication. Thus, the value of each counter included in the applicationcounter 507 is 2 or more in some cases. However, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and, for example, a flag indicating whether ornot a stop instruction has been issued may be used. In other words, aflag may be used which indicates that “there is a stop instruction” wheneven one of programs constituting an application has issued a stopinstruction, and which indicates that “there is no stop instruction”when no stop instruction has been issued.

In the embodiment described above, the hand-held game apparatus has beendescribed as an example of the information processing apparatus.However, the present invention is also applicable to and particularlyuseful for small-size portable information terminals such as mobilephones and PDAs. In addition, the present invention is also applicableto portable information processing terminals that are not so small butcan be carried in a bag or the like, such as tablet type informationterminals (tablet terminals and tablet PCs), slate PCs, and notebookcomputers.

In the embodiment described above, a series of processes concerning aninstruction from an application to stop the background communication isperformed in a single apparatus (the game apparatus 10). In anotherembodiment, the series of processes may be performed in an informationprocessing system that includes a plurality of information processingapparatuses. For example, in an information processing system thatincludes a terminal side apparatus and a server side apparatuscommunicable with the terminal side apparatus via a network, a part ofthe series of processes may be performed by the server side apparatus.Alternatively, in an information processing system that includes aterminal side apparatus and a server side apparatus communicable withthe terminal side apparatus via a network, a main process of the seriesof the processes may be performed by the server side apparatus, and apart of the series of the processes may be performed by the terminalside apparatus. Still alternatively, in the information processingsystem, a server side system may include a plurality of informationprocessing apparatuses, and a process to be performed in the server sidesystem may be divided and performed by the plurality of informationprocessing apparatuses.

While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It willbe understood that numerous other modifications and variations can bedevised without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus configured tooperate in at least a used state and an unused state, the informationprocessing apparatus comprising: communication circuitry configured tooperate as a first communication mode for automatically performingcommunication with another information processing apparatus and as asecond communication mode for automatically performing communication viaan access point; and a processing system configured to: change a stateof the information processing apparatus between the unused state and theused state, control the communication circuitry using a communicationcontrol device for performing control such that the communication by thefirst communication mode is preferentially performed when theinformation processing apparatus is in the unused state and thecommunication by the second communication mode is preferentiallyperformed when the information processing apparatus is in the usedstate, automatically switch between a first search and a second search,automatically perform a search for the other information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search, and automatically perform a search for the access pointwhen the information processing apparatus is switched to the secondsearch, wherein the communication control device controls thecommunication circuitry to perform the communication by the firstcommunication mode with the other information processing apparatus whenthe other information processing apparatus is detected by the firstsearch and perform the communication by the second communication modevia the access point when the access point is detected by the secondsearch.
 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, in the used state of the information processing apparatus, thecommunication control device performs the communication by the secondcommunication mode when a predetermined condition is satisfied, andperforms the communication by the first communication mode when thepredetermined condition is not satisfied.
 3. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first period for performingthe communication by the first communication mode in the unused stateand a second period during which the communication by the firstcommunication mode is not performed in the unused state are previouslyset in the information processing apparatus, and the communicationcontrol device controls the communication circuitry to perform thecommunication by the second communication mode in the unused state whenthe second period has come and the access point is present in acommunicable range; perform the communication by the secondcommunication mode in the used state when the access point is present inthe communicable range; and perform the communication by the firstcommunication mode in the used state when the access point is notpresent in the communicable range.
 4. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processingapparatus switches between the first search and the second search eachtime a predetermined time elapses.
 5. The information processingapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined time is afirst unit time after the information processing apparatus switches tothe first search, and is a second unit time shorter than the first unittime after the information processing apparatus switches to the secondsearch.
 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein in the unused state of the information processing apparatus, theinformation processing apparatus alternately and repeatedly performs thefirst search and the second search each time the predetermined timeelapses, and in the used state of the information processing apparatus,the information processing apparatus performs switching from the firstsearch to the second search when the predetermined time elapses, andperforms switching from the second search to the first search whencommunication with the access point becomes disenabled.
 7. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, furtherconfigured to connect to the access point when the access point isdetected by the second search, wherein when the information processingapparatus is connected to the access point, the second communicationmode performs communication via the access point, and the informationprocessing apparatus cuts a connection to the access point after thecommunication by the second communication mode ends, in the unusedstate; and maintains the connection to the access point even after thecommunication by the second communication mode ends, in the used state.8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe information processing apparatus switches to the first search whenthe connection to the access point cannot be maintained.
 9. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in theused state, the information processing apparatus cuts the connection tothe access point when the access point cannot be detected in the searchafter the information processing apparatus is connected to the accesspoint.
 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the information processing apparatus repeatedly transmits afirst search signal for searching for the other information processingapparatus and attempts to receive the first search signal transmittedfrom the other information processing apparatus, and the informationprocessing apparatus attempts to receive a second search signalrepeatedly transmitted from the access point.
 11. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstcommunication mode connects directly to another information processingapparatus present in a range of short-distance wireless communication,by using the short-distance wireless communication, and performscommunication with the other information processing apparatus, and thesecond communication mode performs communication with a server oranother information processing apparatus via the access point.
 12. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesecond communication mode transmits/receives data that is the same asdata transmitted/received by the communication performed by the firstcommunication mode, to/from another information processing apparatus bycommunication via the access point.
 13. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processingapparatus is a portable information processing apparatus.
 14. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinformation processing apparatus is in the unused state during a sleepmode and is in the used state during a normal power mode.
 15. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: communication circuitryconfigured to operate as a first communication mode for automaticallyperforming data communication with another information processingapparatus by using short-distance wireless communication and as a secondcommunication mode for automatically performing data communication viaan access point; and a processing system configured to: search for theaccess point present in a communicable range of the informationprocessing apparatus, control the communication circuitry using a switchcontrol device for performing the communication by the secondcommunication mode when the access point is present in the communicablerange, and performing the communication by the first communication modewhen the access point is not present in the communicable range,automatically switch between a first search and a second search,automatically perform a search for the other information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search, and automatically perform a search for the access pointwhen the information processing apparatus is switched to the secondsearch, wherein the switch control device further controls thecommunication circuitry to perform the communication by the firstcommunication mode with the other information processing apparatus whenthe other information processing apparatus is detected by the firstsearch and perform the communication by the second communication modevia the access point when the access point is detected by the secondsearch.
 16. An information processing apparatus being operable in a usedstate and an unused state, the information processing apparatuscomprising: a processing system configured to change a state of theinformation processing apparatus between the unused state and the usedstate and to connect to an access point and automatically perform a datacommunication process via the access point in a first communicationmode; and a communication control device configured to cut a connectionto the access point when the data communication process by the firstcommunication mode ends, in the unused state of the informationprocessing apparatus, and maintain the connection to the access pointeven when the data communication process by the first communication modeends, in the used state of the information processing apparatus, theprocessing system further configured to: automatically switch between afirst search and a second search, automatically perform a search foranother information processing apparatus when the information processingapparatus is switched to the first search, and automatically perform asearch for the access point when the information processing apparatus isswitched to the second search, wherein the communication control deviceis further configured to perform communication by a second communicationmode with the other information processing apparatus when the otherinformation processing apparatus is detected by the first search andperform the communication by the first communication mode via the accesspoint when the access point is detected by the second search.
 17. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in theused state of the information processing apparatus, the communicationcontrol device cuts a connection to the other information processingapparatus when the data communication process by the secondcommunication mode ends, and maintains the connection to the accesspoint when the data communication process by the first communicationmode ends.
 18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising an information processing program executable by a computer ofan information processing apparatus, the information processing programcausing the computer to: change a state of the information processingapparatus between an unused state and a used state; automaticallyperform communication with another information processing apparatus;automatically perform communication via an access point; perform controlsuch that the communication automatically performed with the anotherinformation processing apparatus is preferentially performed when theinformation processing apparatus is in the unused state and thecommunication automatically performed via the access point ispreferentially performed when the information processing apparatus is inthe used state; automatically switch between a first search and a secondsearch; automatically perform a search for the other informationprocessing apparatus when the information processing apparatus isswitched to the first search; automatically perform a search for theaccess point when the information processing apparatus is switched tothe second search; and perform the communication with the otherinformation processing apparatus when the other information processingapparatus is detected by the first search and perform the communicationvia the access point when the access point is detected by the secondsearch.
 19. An information processing method for an informationprocessing apparatus, the information processing method comprising:changing a state of the information processing apparatus between anunused state and a used state; automatically performing communicationwith another information processing apparatus; automatically performingcommunication via an access point; performing control such that thecommunication automatically performed with the another informationprocessing apparatus is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the unused state and the communicationautomatically performed via the access point is preferentially performedwhen the information processing apparatus is in the used state;automatically switching between a first search and a second search;automatically performing a search for the other information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search; automatically performing a search for the access pointwhen the information processing apparatus is switched to the secondsearch; and performing the communication with the other informationprocessing apparatus when the other information processing apparatus isdetected by the first search and performing the communication via theaccess point when the access point is detected by the second search. 20.An information processing system comprising a server and a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses, each information processingapparatus configured to operate in at least a used state and an unusedstate, each information processing apparatus comprising: communicationcircuitry configured to operate as a first communication mode forautomatically performing communication with another informationprocessing apparatus and as a second communication mode forautomatically performing communication with the server via an accesspoint; and a processing system configured to: change a state of theinformation processing apparatus between the unused state and the usedstate, control the communication circuitry using a communication controldevice for performing control such that the communication by the firstcommunication mode is preferentially performed when the informationprocessing apparatus is in the unused state and the communication by thesecond communication mode is preferentially performed when theinformation processing apparatus is in the used state, automaticallyswitch between a first search and a second search, automatically performa search for the other information processing apparatus when theinformation processing apparatus is switched to the first search, andautomatically perform a search for the access point when the informationprocessing apparatus is switched to the second search, wherein thecommunication control device controls the communication circuitry toperform the communication by the first communication mode with the otherinformation processing apparatus when the other information processingapparatus is detected by the first search and perform the communicationby the second communication mode with the server via the access pointwhen the access point is detected by the second search.
 21. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising aninformation processing program executable by a computer of aninformation processing apparatus, the information processing programcausing the computer to: automatically perform data communication withanother information processing apparatus by using short-distancewireless communication; automatically perform data communication via anaccess point; search for the access point present in a communicablerange of the information processing apparatus; perform the communicationvia the access point when the access point is present in thecommunicable range, and perform the communication with the anotherinformation processing apparatus by using the short-distance wirelesscommunication when the access point is not present in the communicablerange; automatically switch between a first search and a second search;automatically perform a search for the other information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search; automatically perform a search for the access point whenthe information processing apparatus is switched to the second search;and perform the communication with the other information processingapparatus when the other information processing apparatus is detected bythe first search and perform the communication via the access point whenthe access point is detected by the second search.
 22. An informationprocessing method used in an information processing apparatus, theinformation processing method comprising: automatically performing datacommunication with another information processing apparatus by usingshort-distance wireless communication; automatically performing datacommunication via an access point; searching for the access pointpresent in a communicable range of the information processing apparatus;performing the communication via the access point when the access pointis present in the communicable range, and performing the communicationwith the another information processing apparatus by using theshort-distance wireless communication when the access point is notpresent in the communicable range; automatically switching between afirst search and a second search; automatically performing a search forthe other information processing apparatus when the informationprocessing apparatus is switched to the first search; automaticallyperforming a search for the access point when the information processingapparatus is switched to the second search; and performing thecommunication with the other information processing apparatus when theother information processing apparatus is detected by the first searchand performing the communication via the access point when the accesspoint is detected by the second search.
 23. An information processingsystem comprising a server and a plurality of information processingapparatuses, each information processing apparatus comprising:communication circuitry configured to operate as a first communicationmode for automatically performing data communication with anotherinformation processing apparatus by using short-distance wirelesscommunication and as a second communication mode for automaticallyperforming data communication with the server via an access point; and aprocessing system configured to: search for the access point present ina communicable range of the information processing apparatus, controlthe communication circuitry using a switch control device for performingthe communication by the second communication mode when the access pointis present in the communicable range, and performing the communicationby the first communication mode when the access point is not present inthe communicable range, automatically switch between a first search anda second search, automatically perform a search for the otherinformation processing apparatus when the information processingapparatus is switched to the first search, and automatically perform asearch for the access point when the information processing apparatus isswitched to the second search, wherein the switch control device furthercontrols the communication circuitry to perform the communication by thefirst communication mode with the other information processing apparatuswhen the other information processing apparatus is detected by the firstsearch and perform the communication by the second communication modewith the server via the access point when the access point is detectedby the second search.
 24. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium comprising an information processing program executed by acomputer of an information processing apparatus, the informationprocessing program causing the computer to: change a state of theinformation processing apparatus between an unused state and a usedstate; connect to an access point and automatically perform a datacommunication process via the access point; cut a connection to theaccess point when the data communication process ends, in the unusedstate of the information processing apparatus, and maintain theconnection to the access point even when the data communication processends, in the used state of the information processing apparatus;automatically switch between a first search and a second search;automatically perform a search for another information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search; automatically perform a search for the access point whenthe information processing apparatus is switched to the second search;and perform communication with the other information processingapparatus when the other information processing apparatus is detected bythe first search and perform the communication via the access point whenthe access point is detected by the second search.
 25. An informationprocessing method used in an information processing apparatus, theinformation processing method comprising: changing a state of theinformation processing apparatus between an unused state and a usedstate; connecting to an access point and automatically performing a datacommunication process via the access point; cutting a connection to theaccess point when the data communication process ends, in the unusedstate of the information processing apparatus, and maintaining theconnection to the access point even when the data communication processends, in the used state of the information processing apparatus;automatically switching between a first search and a second search;automatically performing a search for another information processingapparatus when the information processing apparatus is switched to thefirst search; automatically performing a search for the access pointwhen the information processing apparatus is switched to the secondsearch; and performing communication with the other informationprocessing apparatus when the other information processing apparatus isdetected by the first search and performing the communication via theaccess point when the access point is detected by the second search. 26.An information processing system comprising a server and a plurality ofinformation processing apparatuses, each information processingapparatus configured to operate in at least a used state and an unusedstate, each information processing apparatus comprising: a processingsystem configured to change a state of the information processingapparatus between the unused state and the used state and to connect toan access point and automatically perform a data communication processvia the access point in a first communication mode; and a communicationcontrol device configured to cut a connection to the access point whenthe data communication process by the first communication mode ends, inthe unused state of the information processing apparatus, and maintainthe connection to the access point even when the data communicationprocess by the first communication mode ends, in the used state of theinformation processing apparatus, the processing system furtherconfigured to: automatically switch between a first search and a secondsearch, automatically perform a search for another informationprocessing apparatus when the information processing apparatus isswitched to the first search, and automatically perform a search for theaccess point when the information processing apparatus is switched tothe second search, wherein the communication control device is furtherconfigured to perform communication by a second communication mode withthe other information processing apparatus when the other informationprocessing apparatus is detected by the first search and perform thecommunication by the first communication mode via the access point whenthe access point is detected by the second search.
 27. An informationdisplay apparatus having a used state and an unused state, theinformation display apparatus comprising: a display device; a wirelesscommunication device operable in first and second different modes; and acommunication control system configured to: control the wirelesscommunication device such that communication in the first mode ispreferentially performed when the information processing apparatus is inthe unused state and communication in the second mode is preferentiallyperformed when the information processing apparatus is in the usedstate, in the first mode the wireless communication device automaticallyperforms communication with another information processing apparatus,and in the second mode the wireless communication device automaticallyperforms communication via an access point, automatically switch betweena first search and a second search, automatically perform a search forthe other information processing apparatus when the informationprocessing apparatus is switched to the first search, automaticallyperform a search for the access point when the information processingapparatus is switched to the second search, and perform thecommunication by the first mode with the other information processingapparatus when the other information processing apparatus is detected bythe first search and perform the communication by the second mode viathe access point when the access point is detected by the second search.28. The information display apparatus according to claim 27, whereindisplay on the display device is stopped in the unused state.
 29. Theinformation display apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the firstmode is an ad hoc mode and the second mode is an infrastructure mode.